The girls’ soccer programs from Nansemond River High School and King’s Fork High School produced evidence of their first trips to the regional tournament on the All-4A South Region second team.

Senior forward Emily Leverone and senior defender Karin Kleps represented the Lady Warriors, while freshman midfielder Rebecca Washburn represented the Lady Bulldogs.

NR coach Darryl Yandle was frank in his assessment of where Leverone ended up on the scale of recognition.

“I thought Emily should have made first (team),” he said.

She was Ironclad Conference Player of the Year, which he said in some cases, would guarantee an all-region first team slot, but at the regional voting meeting, Suffolk was not as well-represented as were schools from other areas.

It came down to a tie between Leverone and another player that coaches were more familiar with, giving the other player the logical advantage.

Yandle said Kleps made the team because other coaches “saw her work her tail off” against Midlothian High School in the regional semifinals. She was kept quite busy on defense during the Lady Warriors’ 9-0 loss.

KF coach Jason Stump had high praise for Rebecca Washburn.

“She’s no doubt one of the best girls’ soccer players to ever come out of Suffolk,” he stated in a text message. “She was awarded our team Player of the Year (award). A leader both at practice and in a game and a high-achieving student. I highly regard Becca.”

Players receiving honorable mention included Nansemond River senior defender Cassidy Feldt, King’s Fork freshman forward Cydney Nichols and Lakeland High School junior goalkeeper Erin Bradshaw.