The past few years, the girls’ varsity soccer team has had some challenging seasons, including in 2024 when they went 4-13. While they might not be topping the scoreboards yet, they are focusing on making this a team-building year.
“Fluvanna girls’ soccer is having a huge year of growth. Our varsity members are having to push themselves out of their comfort zones on a daily basis, striving to make the best of every opportunity for training and competition,” said Varsity Head Coach Katrina Hinkle, who is assisted by Coach Kristen Davis. “Our junior varsity members are showcasing their collective talent while overcoming the growing pains of learning to be a part of a cohesive group. The players of this program show the tenacity to constantly reach for more, and the class to lift up other female athletes around them. The Jefferson District is an absolute powerhouse for talented teams, and we are determined to make sure the surrounding schools respect us and the beautiful game,” said Hinkle.
Some team members say that Hinkle’s leadership has been instrumental in driving this transformation, not only through her understanding of the game, having been on the soccer team when she attended FCHS, but also through the culture she has built around the team. Her players say she challenges them to strive for excellence, not just on the field, but off it, fostering an environment where every player is empowered to work hard.
One of the biggest shifts this year is the team’s commitment to rebuilding its foundations. Varsity player and defender Reese Yowell shared how the team is growing closer as a group and placing value on respect and leadership.
“We have been working so hard, not just on the field, but off it as well, making sure everyone is respectful no matter what, and seeing that our team chemistry plays off on the field. This season has been really influential on me as a now upperclassman, and stepping into more of a leadership role and making sure I’m there in case anybody needs me in any way,” said Yowell.
Junior Margeaux Cantagallo said that the team-building side of varsity has been top tier this year. “Everyone’s gotten along so well, and that’s made a huge difference both on and off the field. The chemistry between us during practices and games is an amazing thing we possess,” she said.
Cantagallo added, “The friendships we’ve built this season are honestly unmatched. It’s made every weekday practice something I actually look forward to. This year’s been one of the most fun and connected seasons I’ve been a part of, and I think that’s what made it so special.”
Varsity player Claire Petrylak agreed that the team is putting more focus on building strong team bonds both on the field and in the classroom. “That way, next year we will be able to perform at a higher standard. Despite the tough losses, we still show up and work hard every day at practice. As one of the youngest players on the team, the leadership and encouragement I’ve received from the older players and coaches have helped me and the other freshmen grow and improve,” she added.
It’s not just the varsity team seeing positive change. Momentum has been building on the JV side as well. After last year’s 2-8-3 record, the team is currently 8-1. In their first five games, the JV soccer team, coached by Brooklyn Duenas and assistant coach Gary Davis, has scored 26 goals–an immense improvement from the five they scored last year.
“The team works really well together this year. Last year, we struggled to work together and play as a team. I think this led to some of our lack of success. This year, the team has worked very well together on and off the field. The team seems to be more dedicated, as teammates are devoting more time to the sport and working to improve themselves,” said freshman and JV goalkeeper Sophie Long.
At the end of last year, the team barely had a full roster. This year, the team doesn’t have a single jersey to spare, with many 8th graders eager to play the sport.
“We have improved a lot on our communication, as well as our fundamentals, like making better passes and talking more,” said JV Captain and sophomore Aryana Chowdhury. “We also have a lot of new 8th graders, which I think helped give us a fresh start from last season. As a leader on the team, sometimes I find it difficult to put my foot down when I have to tell the younger players on the team what to do, but overall, I enjoy being able to be a leader and help out some of the new players so that we can become better as a team,” she added.
With both the JV and varsity teams putting heavy emphasis on team bonding, working hard in practice, and leading by example, the teams hope to lay the groundwork for success on the scoreboard in the future. As of May 1, the varsity team had a record of 2-8-1, and the JV team had a record of 10-2.
