Lakeland places three on All-Region
Published 9:33 pm Tuesday, June 5, 2018
The Lakeland High School girls’ soccer team had three players make the Class 3 Region A teams.
The Lady Cavs recently wrapped up a season where they came a game away from making it to the state tournament. They fell to Colonial Heights High School in the Class 3 Region A semifinals.
Darcy Kilgore and Mikayla Grant both made first team for Lakeland. Kilgore, a junior, scored the game-winning goal for Lakeland to advance past the first round of the regional playoffs.
“I have been playing soccer since I was 4, and nothing could amount to the excitement I had when I found out I made it,” Kilgore said. “I have worked extremely hard in the offseason to become the player I am today. Of course, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my teammates and coaches.”
Kilgore said it has been a joy the last few years playing for this program, which has helped her earn her accolades. She is hoping to build on a solid junior campaign for her senior season. Before the season started, she came in wanting to be a good teammate and a leader. After her game-winner against Park View High School, she felt good about helping elevate her team to the next level. Watching the ball hit the net and watching her teammate’s reaction was priceless.
Grant, a freshman, really burst onto the scene, in the words of her coach Adam Smith. Smith said she immediately made an impact at tryouts, which led to a solid first season of varsity soccer for the freshman. She had played soccer before in the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association but had stopped playing in middle school, only to make her return at Lakeland and earn All-Region honors.
“I feel thrilled to be able to use what I had been taught to help us through the season,” Grant said. “This is very exciting and a big opportunity for me as a freshman.”
Nacaccia Becerra was a second team All-Region selection. As a sophomore, she will return with Grant and Kilgore to make a strong core for next season.