Field hockey preview: Once again, Cox is the team to beat

Preseason Top 10

1. Cox: The Falcons have won more state field hockey titles, 15, than any other program in the state. And Cox seems to be back to its old, dominating self after winning a second consecutive championship last year. Cox lost several key players to graduation, but programs like Cox always have girls primed for reloading. All-state selection Taylor Rhea is the team’s leading returning scorer on what is believed to be the program’s first team with no seniors.

2. Princess Anne: The Cavaliers, who advanced to the Group AAA state semifinals last year, return All-Tidewater standouts Chelsea Hill and all-state player Maartje van Rijswijk. There’s also a quality supporting cast, but the team must replace All-Tidewater keeper Margo Savage. Senior Morgan Slater was Savage’s backup and is a solid performer. But Savage’s little sister, freshman Meredith, also brings plenty to the cage. “You think they’ll let me put both of them in the cage?” coach Denise O’Connell said with a laugh. “It’s very likely that they’ll both see action.”

3. Maury: The Commodores, second in the state two years ago, graduated all-state player and leading scorer Rachael White. But there is a healthy cast of returnees, many of whom have changed positions to make a better lineup. The most notable move is Rachel Robinson from forward to defender. Several members of the team played in the National Futures tournament. All-Tidewater second-teamers Anne Pishko and Margaret Sarcone, who was second-team all-state, will lead the charge.

4. Lakeland: The Cavaliers again will rule the Southeastern District and again will be an Eastern Region contender. Goalkeeper Madisson Parmeter has transferred to Princess Anne but is not playing field hockey. Coach Tara Worley says former junior varsity keeper Marissa Betkowski, a sophomore, is up to the task. On a squad with only one senior, sophomore Kelsey Smither is the leading returning scorer.

5. Cape Henry Collegiate: The Dolphins have come so close the last few years to getting past Norfolk Academy’s TCIS domination. With 15 players back from a team that made it to the private school state finals last year, this could be that year. All-state center midfielder Kelsey Scherrer, who had 36 points last season, is the top returnee. She’ll get considerable help from midfielder Kristen Meredith and keeper Julia LaSilvia.

6. Norfolk Academy: The Bulldogs have owned the TCIS since 1989. But holding on to that status could be tough after the graduation of 12 players. “We’re going to be young, so I’m probably going to have to do a lot more coaching,” coach Mary Werkheiser said. To prepare for league play, Werkheiser will let her players take their lumps against top public school teams. Brittany Morris is a three-year starter who will be called on to lead the young team.

7. Kellam: The Knights made it to their first-ever Beach District tournament final last year, leading opposing coaches to say that the team is ready to make a run this season. The Knights feature solid midfield play, with Megan Reardon and Zoe McGee leading the charge. Second-year coach Katie Staples likes her team’s overall speed.

8. Ocean Lakes: Another young team with lots of hopes, the Dolphins are led by leading returning scorer Marjorie Pettitt. Ocean Lakes advanced to the Beach semis last year but then faced eventual state champ Cox. Forward line speed and solid midfield play will be keys this season.

9. First Colonial: The Patriots lost just three district matches last season and finished tied with Kellam for third place in the state’s toughest district.

10. Tallwood: The Lions have a veteran lineup that could put them back in Beach District title contention for the first time a couple of years. Eight starters return.

DON’T COUNT OUT

Western Branch: The Bruins had one of their best seasons ever but faltered in the Southeastern District semis.

Hickory: The Hawks return from their first Eastern Region appearance.

Granby: The Comets have a new coach — Elizabeth Werbiskis — but don’t expect to miss a beat.

PICKING THE LEAGUES

Beach District 1. Cox 2. Princess Anne 3. Kellam 4. Ocean Lakes 5. First Colonial 6. Tallwood 7. Landstown 8. Bayside 9. Kempsville 10. Green Run 11. Salem

Eastern District 1. Maury 2. Granby 3. Lake Taylor 4. Churchland 5. Norview 6. Booker T. Washington Note: Norcom and Wilson are not fielding teams.

Southeastern District

1. Lakeland 2. Western Branch 3. Hickory 4. Nansemond River 5. Great Bridge 6. Oscar Smith 7. Grassfield 8. King’s Fork 9. Indian River 10. Deep Creek

Tidewater Conference

1. Cape Henry Collegiate 2. Norfolk Academy 3. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy 4. Bishop Sullivan Catholic 5. Walsingham 6. Norfolk Collegiate 7. Hampton Roads Academy

DEFENDING CHAMPS

State Group AAA: Cox.

State private schools: Division I, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes; Division II, Walsingham.

Eastern Region: Cox.

Beach District: Princess Anne, regular season; Cox, tournament.

Eastern District: Maury, regular season; Granby, tournament.

Southeastern District: Lakeland, regular season and tournament.

Tidewater Conference: Norfolk Academy, regular season and tournament.

BETWEEN THE CAGES

  -- For the fifth year in a row, Tallwood has a foreign exchange student on the team. Jasmina Kallio-Konno is a junior from Finland.

-- For the first time in five years, Granby will be without head coach Dawn Anderson, who also was a junior varsity coach for the Comets for two years. In June, Anderson became head coach at Jamestown. Anderson takes the reigns of a program that made it to the Group AA/A state semifinals last year and to the quarters in 2006 and 2003. “I’m definitely going to miss the girls and the program at Granby,” Anderson said. “But it is an excellent opportunity for me, and it was time for a change.”

-- It’s a good thing they wear numbers. Maury has two sets of twins — Sara and Meredith Coleman, and Marial and Margurite Kennedy. To help coach Beanie Schleicher, the Colemans play with different colored sticks. The Kennedys have different hairstyles.

-- In the name of field hockey fellowship, Cox, Maury and Princess Anne will host Northwest Region state tournament representatives Stafford and Mountain View this weekend in a series of scrimmages and regular-season openers at the National Training Center. After Friday’s three games, all five teams will converge on the home of Falcons player Taylor Rhea for a cookout/pool party. “It’s going to be a great chance for everybody to just hang out and get to know each other,” Cox coach Julie Swain said. “Kids, coaches, parents and officials ... about 100 people.”

-- Rhea was the fifth-leading high school scorer in the nation last year, finishing the season with 39 goals.

-- In the topofthecircle.com final national Top 50 last year, Cox was ranked eighth in the country. Princess Anne was the only other Eastern Region team in the rankings at 38th. Stafford of Northern Virginia was 35th.

-- The Group AAA and combined Group AA/A state tournaments again will be held at the National Training Center in Virginia Beach. The dates are Nov. 13-15 for Group AAA, and Nov. 11 and 14-15 for Group AA/A.

-- This year’s annual SunDevils tournament is slated for Sept. 5 and 6 at the National Training Center.