As the football season draws to a close with playoffs starting next week, soccer will take to the field of the Shark Tank and Panther Den as the winter sport has gotten underway.
St. Johns County is known for its youth soccer programs and travel teams and that translates to the school squads as well, with some traditions of excellence that have developed over the years.
The Ponte Vedra Sharks’ girls soccer team are the reigning Class 6A state champions and will look to defend their title behind the scoring prowess of striker Jenny Dearie, who enters her senior season hungry to repeat.
“We’re always looking for more,” Dearie said. “We're hungry to go undefeated this year, possibly no ties. That'd be amazing. We're just always looking for ways to get better.”
Dearie is joined by fellow seniors Natalie McCann, Quinlee Irwin, and Abby Wooten, who have all stepped into and embraced even more of a leadership role this season.
“Coming back from winning states last year, I expect us to do the same,” Dearie said. “Yes, we lost nine seniors. Yes, they were a big part of our team, but we have so much depth on our team, and our players are so talented that I think we can definitely do it again this year.”
According to McCann, that starts with making sure to constantly work on building and maintaining the team’s chemistry, especially as new players become part of the team each year.
“I definitely think going up to them and like, just inviting them over to hang out with us,” McCann said. “I don't think our team needs to be diverse and separated. We're all very close together, and we just have team bonding activities. We’re excited for the season.”
On the boys side, the Sharks had an uncharacteristic result last season, as they missed the state playoffs, a rarity in recent years.
However, the Sharks are poised to get the program headed back on course this season.
“Every year, we always have new kids, and we just kind of help them out,” junior center back Brayden Sandoval said. “If they need help, we'll have extra practices after practice, if we need to go out on the weekends, and if they ever need anything, we’re always here for them.”
Last year proved to be a memorable season for both the Nease boys and girls soccer teams with both teams advancing in the playoffs.
The boys defeated the Sharks to claim the district title and followed it up with a first round upset victory over Gulf Breeze at home.
That playoff experience from a year ago will definitely be drawn upon when adversity hits during games and during the season.
“We’re going to have to put in maximum effort and have the right attitude going into every game,” senior midfielder Evan Mumford said. “Every game is going to be a challenge, so we’ve got to bring it every time.”
Meanwhile, the girls had a magical run of their own and reached the regional final.
Seniors Isable Bostic and Taylor Larramore provide the Panthers with valuable experience in the midfield, but after the run they finished with a season ago one of the main aspects the team will encounter this season is how to properly handle the expectations that come the next year after such a playoff push.
“I think we can go really far, but we're just trying to make the best of the talent we have on the team, because we have a lot of talent,” Bostic said.
