The girls’ soccer teams from King’s Fork High School and Nansemond River High School each had seven representatives on the all-conference first team, while the Lady Bulldogs produced the two top individual winners.

Sophomore forward Cydney Nichols was named the Ironclad Conference Player of the Year, and Mike Marston was conference Coach of the Year.

Nichols’ contribution on offense across all 18 games this season was nothing short of prolific as she poured in 33 goals and also had a hand in several more with 16 assists.

“I was excited,” Nichols said, referring to when she learned she was the Player of the Year. “I didn’t think I was going to get it, to be honest. I was genuinely shocked.”

Marston said the POTY decision among the conference coaches was unanimous to the point that no official vote even took place.

“When it got brought up, everybody’s like, ‘Yeah, Cydney,’” he said.

Seeing the award go to her, Marston said he was proud.

“I’ve been coaching her since she was 8 years old,” he said. “Watching high school (games), to see players that I think have similar athletic ability but don’t have the skill she has, it definitely gives me a sense of pride in everything we’ve worked on over all the years to help make her the player that she is, not just another athlete out there.”

Nichols was also named to the all-conference first team as a forward for the second consecutive year.

Though Marston has extensive experience coaching a club team, this was his first year coaching a high school team. He helped the Lady Bulldogs go 14-4 overall, a school record for wins in a season.

They won the conference regular season title, going 5-0 in the Ironclad, they nearly won the Southeastern District, going 7-2, and they qualified for the regional playoffs for the second straight year.

Of his coaching award, Marston said, “It was really good to be recognized by everybody. That was unanimous, too. It’s just a reflection on what the team’s doing, really.”

The all-conference first team was comprised entirely of Suffolk players.

In addition to Nichols, King’s Fork players making the first team included senior forward Lindsay Ransome, sophomore midfielder Rebecca Washburn, junior midfielder Logan Montel, freshman midfielder Ashley Bido, sophomore defender Skylar Wall and freshman defender Hannah Marston.

Nansemond River players making the first team included freshman forward Indiah Hunter, sophomore forward Daijah Norris, junior midfielder Claire Janek, sophomore midfielder Kamarie Jewette, sophomore defender Starr Robinson, junior defender Kendall Webster and senior defender Desiree Patterson.

Lakeland High School players making the first team included senior forward Julianna Durand and senior goalkeeper Erin Bradshaw.

King’s Fork second-team players included sophomore midfielder Alyssa Vick, junior midfielder Emma Marston, sophomore defender Nia Nickerson, junior defender Carlee Morse and senior goalkeeper Hannah Washburn.

Nansemond River second-team players included sophomore forward Victoria Czuprynski, freshman forward Kaylah Simmons and senior midfielder Courtney DeLucia.

Lakeland second-team players included senior forward Lindsay Bagley, junior midfielder Jennifer Rockwell, sophomore defender Haley Beale and sophomore defender Kendall Lewis.

Lady Cavaliers sophomore Kaylene Thomas, Lady Warriors freshman Kayleigh McQueen and Lady Bulldogs senior Rachel Gist received honorable mention.