Loudoun County, Va. — As high school field hockey gets underway in Loudoun County, a few local teams have already started to stand out among the crowd. In a two-district county, we wanted a way to put things into perspective. Enter: the LoCo Top 5.
Of course, if you’re into hard numbers, check out the full Potomac and Dulles District standings.
[adrotate banner=”10″]1. Heritage (7-0)
For the third straight year, Heritage field hockey has a target on its back. During the program’s first two years in existence, the Pride played in back-to-back VHSL 4A State semifinal games. And the scary thing is Heritage hasn’t graduated most of the girls who played in its inaugural season in 2016. The electric group of seniors is led by captain Josie Rossbach, who has twice been named the All-LoCo Player of the Year. So far through 2018, the Pride defense – led by senior goalie Gabi Gray and senior Calli Henderson – has allowed just three goals. The Heritage offense, meanwhile, has scored 38 times in seven games.
2. Riverside (6-0)
Riverside is the team with the best chance to give Heritage a run for its money. Sophomore midfielder Gurnoor Dhaliwal – who was named VHSL 4A All-State second team in 2017 – and sophomore midfielder Kellen Richbourg have helped the Rams match the Pride’s impressive 38 goal total, but took just six games to get there. On the defensive end, Riverside has allowed just one goal all season in a 5-1 win over Briar Woods. Mark your calendars for October 9: Heritage at Riverside in a battle of the heavyweights.
3. Potomac Falls (4-1)
This Potomac Falls team is relentless. After outlasting Loudoun County, 2-0, in a game called at halftime to open their season on August 21, the Panthers escaped Woodgrove, 3-2, on September 4, before hanging around with No. 1 Heritage in a 2-0 loss on September 5. Then after relinquishing a halftime lead on September 13, Potomac Falls senior midfielder Abby Asuncion scored two of her game high four goals in the second half to rally the Panthers past Loudoun Valley. Potomac Falls has a rematch scheduled with Loudoun County on September 24 before the Panthers start the meat of their Potomac District schedule against Rock Ridge on September 25. Then on October 8, Potomac Falls will get a shot at Riverside the night before the Rams play Heritage. The October 8 match up has the markings of a trap game.
4. Stone Bridge (4-2)
Stone Bridge senior Emma Logue might be the best defensive player in Loudoun, and junior forward Ashlyn Hughes adds a spark to the Bulldogs’ front line. Logue, Hughes and the rest of the Bulldogs started their 2018 campaign with a 4-game win streak, while outscoring opponents 17-2. Stone Bridge, however, ran into No. 1 Heritage and No. 2 Riverside during a one-week stretch in mid-September to fall to 4-2. The Bulldogs hope to get back on track when they play Dominion – who they beat 4-0 to start their season – on September 20.
5. Briar Woods (4-2)
Like Stone Bridge, Briar Woods has already run into Heritage and Riverside, falling to both teams, 5-1. But other than those two losses, first-year head coach Christine Keyser has the Falcons off to a great start. Led by senior midfielder Emma Brunet, senior defender Sammy Febles and senior midfielder Hannah Hooper, Briar Woods has allowed just two goals in their four wins, while posting two shutouts. Following their loss to Heritage, the Falcons are most of the way through a nine-day hiatus before resuming play against Kettle Run on September 20.