The road hasn't always been easy for the girls soccer team since Goochland joined Jefferson District three seasons ago.
The Bulldogs had won just five games total over the past two seasons under head coach Jason Funkhouser, who joined the program during the 2021-22 season when the team moved to a new district schedule. Funkhouser has particularly worked with a young group in recent seasons, with only two seniors graduating last year and relying on some freshmen for significant varsity work.
The trip marked the team's best season in years and Funkhouser's best season since taking over as coach, with the Bulldogs holding a 4-8 record and recently snapping a three-game winning streak, their longest streak ever. ing. three seasons. Those wins came against Fluvanna County, a team they had never beaten before, and Louisa County in a two-day home-and-away series.
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Much of that success was built on the progress of the freshman class from last season. This year's team includes seven sophomores in the starting lineup for Opening Day, a group that has grown together thanks to the significant varsity time they were given a season ago. is showing.
“The last few years, 10th grade has been thrown into the fire a little bit,” Fankhauser said. “It's nice to see us getting the results that we talked about two years ago.” We're getting there. ”
In addition to these underclassmen, there is a stable group of upperclassmen who have kept the team on track and focused. Midfielder Holly Birmingham and defender Perry Nuckolls lead the way for the Bulldogs, with Birmingham's skills and sage knowledge of the game transferring to his younger teammates, with Knuckols making a real addition to the team defending the net. is provided to.
“She brought the entire team's soccer IQ to her level,” Fankhauser said of Birmingham.
Birmingham has been with the program for the past two seasons since moving from Short Pump to Goochland, and has seen the team's development firsthand, demonstrating his skills as a creative on-ball master and a team that relies on young talent. He has helped both as leaders. Starting eleven.
“I think it gets stronger every year, and it encourages the girls to be the best that we can be and keeps everything positive,” she said.
Birmingham said he hopes his teammate Nuckolls' hard work will rub off on his younger teammates.
“I know I can always rely on Perry behind me,” Birmingham said. “Like if a girl passes me by, I know Perry's always going to be right back there. She's a physical player. “He's exactly the kind of player we need on the field. I encourage him more.” Girls are going to be like Perry. ”
The Bulldogs are currently on a three-game losing streak, but their winning streak in April gave them a lot of confidence, both in their ability to find the net and protect their own territory. During that time, they defeated Fluvanna and Luisa 9-3 and shut out Flying Flucos 1-0 to start their winning streak. He then scored four goals in each match against the Lions, including one goal scored by four different players.
The Bulldogs close out the regular season with four tough games. Two of those games are against the 9-1 Western Albemarle Warriors, the other is against the 7-3 Orange County Hornets, and a rematch with Fluvanna County, but Coach Funkhouser said the team is Concentrates on controlling. Establish your own processes and keep your head up even in difficult situations. When the Class 3, Region B tournament takes place on May 23rd, this club will be even tougher and more experienced than what we saw before the season, armed with wins and the program's last few games. This will be a club that has had its best season of the year. .