Nansemond River High School’s field hockey team advanced as far as the regional semifinals this year and garnered four All-Region 4A South honors, including two first-team selections.

Lakeland High School made it to the regional playoffs, as well, and though it was eliminated in the quarterfinals, it still had one representative on the first team and one on the second.

Lady Warriors coach Ali Mowry was happy with her team’s regional accolades.

“I thought we had a pretty good showing, both first and second team, for the position that we were in,” she said. “I was pleased with the girls that received the honors.”

Junior midfielder Claire Janek made the all-region first team, stepping up from her second-team honor last year.

“She scored against Midlothian (High School) in the first round of regionals, and she scored our lone goal against Tabb, but I just think her overall play throughout the season and into both of the tournaments was consistent,” Mowry said.

Janek had nine goals and five assists for the year.

Junior back Ashley Hiltabrand received the first regional honor of her high school career, joining Janek on the first team.

“Ashley’s play throughout our conference tournament and into the regional tournament, I think, really helped her,” Mowry said.

Hiltabrand had been playing farther up the field for much of the season, but when Mowry moved her back to fill in for an injured player on defense, she “did so well that I left her there.”

Regardless of her defensive position, Hiltabrand, like Janek, participates in all offensive penalty corners, giving her opportunities to score. She had six goals and four assists this season.

Senior forward Desiree Patterson made the all-region second team, her first regional honor. Mowry said her goal and assist against Midlothian helped make that happen.

Junior back Cali Valdivieso also made the second team, contributing solid play on defense. She received honorable mention last year.

Lakeland junior back Stasha Waterfield earned her first regional honor as she was named to the first team.

“She’s one of my strongest players, and I was happy that she got it,” Lady Cavaliers coach Cortney Parker said. “She really deserved it. She works hard.”

While Parker was unable to attend the regional voting meeting to promote her, the coach noted how Waterfield’s play commanded respect from the coaches of Lakeland’s last two 2014 opponents.

“Ali (Mowry) is the one who really pushed for (Stasha), and the Maggie Walker coach really pushed for her,” she said.

Parker described Waterfield as the one who makes things happen on the team. Though Waterfield was more often the one setting up assists and goals, she did have six goals and three assists of her own this year.

Senior goalkeeper Erin Bradshaw made the second team. She made the first team last year when an experienced Lakeland squad won the regional championship.

Parker said she thought much of the reason for Bradshaw’s selection this year was due to her impressive 34 saves against Maggie Walker in the regional quarterfinal.