The Lady Bulldogs are looking to build on the historic season the girls’ soccer program had last year.

Last year was a season for the ages for Suffolk soccer, and the King’s Fork High School girls’ soccer team was a big reason for that. With the Virginia High School League format last year, the Lady Bulldogs were the Conference 17 regular season champions and conference champions. They advanced all the way to the Class 4 state semifinal game, which came down to the wire and ended King’s Fork season.

It was the first time a Suffolk public school girls’ soccer team had advanced that far in a season. The Lady Bulldogs will return some players from that team who are hoping to reach new heights this season. They will be without seven seniors from last year’s team, including the school’s all-time scorer, Cydney Nichols. King’s Fork will also be without Rebecca Washburn and Skylar Wall.

King’s Fork does return goalie Jordan Fransee and All-State midfielder Ashley Bido. Bido is a University of North Carolina—Greensboro signee. They will also return Hannah Marston.

Coach Mike Marston felt Fransee was arguably the Lady Bulldogs’ best player in the state semifinal game last year. Even though the Lady Bulldogs won’t be able to duplicate their playing style from last year, they will adjust to the strengths of the team this year, which is up the middle. The margin of error is significantly reduced this season due to the difference in talent.

With the new VHSL format, teams qualify for the regional tournament through power ratings. The Lady Bulldogs fully believe they will qualify for the Class 4 Region A playoffs once again, and that will be a goal. Individually, King’s Fork has enough talent returning to have at least a couple of members make the All-District, region and state teams. If the Lady Bulldogs win at least one playoff game this season, Marston and Bido will have the most playoff wins for a four-year starter in the school’s history.

In years past, Mike Marston has been the head coach of the girls’ team. He will transition into an assistant role, while Matt Crowder steps into the head coaching title. Both coaches are on the same page in regards to working the best way they can to help the program reach new heights.

The Lady Bulldogs will face Norfolk Collegiate at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.