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Underclassmen playing major role for Wakefield




WILSON— The young guns are going to be a major factor in Wakefield High girls soccer’s success this season, with the team usually starting seven or eight underclassmen.

The Wolverines went 2-2-1 in nonconference play, but with the 4-A Northern Atlantic Conference shaping up to be very competitive again this year, those underclassmen are going to need to step up big time. 



“Millbrook, Wake Forest, Heritage I think will all be very difficult opposition for us,” head coach Tommy Retzlaff said. “It’s going to come down to the experience of those underclassmen, learning to play and manage the game when you don’t get the call or you have that opportunity and just managing the emotions and the excitement of it all.”

Retzlaff said he thinks the Wolverines are a top half of the table team, but the question will be if the team can step up and push into the top two spots.

Although the team is on the inexperienced side, Retzlaff said the team has plenty of talent and the experience is something that will be built throughout the season.

“We’re starting to see some improvement in our play as we head into conference play in the next weeks,” Retzlaff said.

The Wolverines ended nonconference play with a tough 2-1 loss to Broughton on Thursday, March 9, and an impressive 3-1 win over Laney in The Brittany on Saturday, March 11.

While the team didn’t get the goals it needed against Broughton, Retzlaff was impressed by junior Reagan Lohr, who he said will be a driving force in Wakefield’s attacking success this season.

“While we didn’t get the result we wanted, it was really the first time that I had seen her come out and just dominate the entire game,” Retzlaff said.

Against Laney, the majority of the Wolverines’ roster was able to see the field, while a persistent wind also made its presence felt throughout the match.

“The wind was really, really difficult,” Retzlaff said. “Normally with the second half lineup, I would expect we’d be able to build out a little bit easier, but Laney was really tough and good on the ball. We struggled to get out, but we scored one against the flow, so the attacking was successful with minimal chances and I think that’s positive.”

The loss was the first of the season for Laney, who went 15-5-1 last season.

Sophomore Kendall Geigle got the scoring going for the Wolverines after Laney took an early lead. While she wasn’t credited with a goal, senior Morgan Hlavenka’s cross gave the Huskies a lead in the second half, before sophomore Mallory Stroud sealed the deal with Wakefield’s third goal.

The Wolverines kick off conference play Monday against Rolesville, before taking on Wake Forest in a rivalry game on Wednesday.