Northeast Florida 2022-23 high school girls soccer district tournament previews

Florida High School Athletic Association girls soccer district tournaments begin Wednesday across the Jacksonville area. Schedules are those provided by the FHSAA but are subject to change.

DISTRICT 1-7A

Final stages at Creekside

Schedule: Jan. 26, Sandalwood at Atlantic Coast, 7 p.m.; Jan. 31, Mandarin at Creekside, 5:30 p.m.; Sandalwood-Atlantic Coast winner vs. Bartram Trail, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 2, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 1 Bartram Trail, No. 2 Creekside, No. 11 Mandarin, No. 12 Atlantic Coast, No. 20 Sandalwood.

The top seed: Bartram Trail. Ranked No. 1 in the nation, the Bears field an abundance of attacking talent from Grace Ivey to Olivia Bori to Avery McCormack, and they look well positioned to mount a challenge for a third state title.

Area bubble team: Mandarin. Only about two points separate the Mustangs from Lake Brantley in the race for the final qualifying berth. To get there, they'll have to topple Creekside in the district semis.

Player to watch: Avery Robinson, Creekside. Whether she's dribbling through a pack of defenders or launching a shot to the upper corner, the Knights' junior midfielder can turn a game around in the blink of an eye.

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DISTRICT 3-6A

At campus sites

Schedule: Jan. 25, Oakleaf at Nease, 7 p.m.; First Coast at Fleming Island, 7 p.m.; Jan. 27, Oakleaf-Nease winner at Ponte Vedra, 7 p.m.; First Coast-Fleming Island winner at Fletcher, 7 p.m.; Jan. 31, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 1 Ponte Vedra, No. 4 Fletcher, No. 5 Fleming Island, No. 10 Nease, No. 15 Oakleaf, No. 22 First Coast.

The top seed: Ponte Vedra. Year in, year out, the Sharks are playoff locks. This time, they're inside the top 10 of the national MaxPreps rankings, with Jenny Dearie and Izzy Whitaker combining for frequent goals in attack.

Area bubble team: Fleming Island. On paper the Golden Eagles' position looks solid, but the weaker District 4-6A will grab one automatic berth and any upsets in other districts could leave Fleming Island with an anxious wait. Assuming they do make the playoffs, watch out: Gianna Gardner is scoring at a steady clip and senior Kaitlyn Scherer is among Northeast Florida's best goal providers.

Player to watch: Taylor Sweat, Fletcher. The senior goalkeeper led the Senators to a historic state title last season, and few high school keepers can match her instincts for bursting upfield from the goal line to sniff out danger.

DISTRICT 2-5A

At campus sites

Schedule: Jan. 24, Middleburg at Columbia, 7 p.m.; Jan. 25, Tallahassee Rickards at Ridgeview, 7 p.m.; Jan. 27, Rickards-Ridgeview winner at Tallahassee Lincoln, 7 p.m.; Middleburg-Columbia winner at Clay, 7 p.m.; Feb. 1, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 1 Tallahassee Lincoln, No. 7 Clay, No. 9 Columbia, No. 12 Tallahassee Rickards, No. 14 Ridgeview, No. 21 Middleburg.

The top seed: Tallahassee Lincoln. Only St. Johns Country Day and Gulf Breeze have beaten the Trojans this year. Objective No. 1 against Lincoln is containing senior striker Paige Churchill, who has scored 28 of the Trojans' 46 goals.

Area bubble team: Columbia. Both Clay and Columbia are on the bubble in this district, and it's possible that a potential semifinal between the two turns into an elimination game. There's no doubt the Tigers can score: Junior Skyler Ziegaus leads with 24 goals and sophomore Mia Brasel has 12.

Player to watch: Kirra Dodson, Clay. Seven hat tricks, a five-goal game and a six-goal game: With 33 goals on the season, the sophomore forward is the scoring force for the Blue Devils.

DISTRICT 3-5A

Final stages at Orange Park

Schedule: Jan. 25, Englewood at Riverside, 6 p.m.; Parker at Menendez, 6 p.m.; Jan. 27, Englewood-Riverside winner at Orange Park, 6 p.m.; Parker-Menendez winner at St. Augustine, 6 p.m.; Jan. 30, championship, 6 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 10 Orange Park, No. 11 St. Augustine, No. 16 Menendez, No. 17 Riverside, No. 20 Englewood, No. 23 Parker.

The top seed: Orange Park. While a less-than-daunting schedule has hurt them in the FHSAA ranking formula, don't underestimate the Raiders: They're 13-2, they've outscored their opponents 70-10 and they have an athletic finisher in multi-sport 31-goal striker Ryanne Robinson.

Area bubble team: None. Based on the numbers, only the district tournament champion qualifies for regionals from District 3-5A.

Player to watch: Salah Miller, Menendez. The senior forward leads the Falcons with 14 goals and got a hat trick on Dec. 20 against St. Augustine.

DISTRICT 2-4A

At Alachua Santa Fe

Schedule: Jan. 25, Palatka at Baker County, 7 p.m.; Jan. 27, Eastside vs. Suwannee, 5:30 p.m.; Palatka-Baker County winner vs. Santa Fe, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 8 Alachua Santa Fe, No. 12 Suwannee, No. 13 Gainesville Eastside, No. 16 Baker County, No. 17 Palatka.

The top seed: Alachua Santa Fe. With a 4-8-2 record and three mercy-rule losses, Santa Fe is far from untouchable as a top seed. Haidyn Smith paces the Raiders' offense with 10 goals.

Area bubble team: None. Baker County, Palatka and Suwannee all must win the district to have a chance at reaching regionals.

Player to watch: Jaylah Douglas, Palatka. Talk about getting hot at the perfect time: The Panthers' senior has found the net four times in her last three games entering the postseason.

DISTRICT 3-4A

At Fernandina Beach

Schedule: Jan. 26, Raines at Yulee, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 31, Raines-Yulee winner vs. Stanton, 5:30 p.m.; West Nassau at Fernandina Beach, 7:20 p.m.; Feb. 1, championship, 6 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 6 Stanton, No. 7 Fernandina Beach, No. 11 West Nassau, No. 15 Yulee, No. 23 Raines.

The top seed: Stanton. There's no denying the bad news: The Blue Devils enter the districts on a five-game losing skid. But the 2017 state finalists are generally a good fit for the high-pressure atmosphere of knockout soccer, and they frustrated reigning 7A champion Creekside for much of the night in their regular season finale.

Area bubble team: Fernandina Beach. The Pirates for now squeeze into the last of the at-large berths, which could change if a surprise team wins the title in District 1-4A or District 3-4A. Fernandina Beach's attack is particularly balanced, with Presleigh Bayot, Sarah Benjamin and Amelia Cutshaw all in double figures in goals.

Player to watch: Emma Griner, Stanton. A junior with the skill set to line up in the attacking trio or in the midfield, Griner conducts the offensive rhythm for the Blue Devils and packs a formidable shot from anywhere inside 35 yards.

DISTRICT 4-4A

Final stage at Tocoi Creek

Schedule: Jan. 25, White at Paxon, 7 p.m.; Westside at Bishop Kenny, 7 p.m.; Jan. 27, Westside-Bishop Kenny winner vs. Beachside, 5:30 p.m.; White-Paxon winner vs. Tocoi Creek, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 2 Tocoi Creek, No. 3 Beachside, No. 5 Bishop Kenny, No. 9 Paxon, No. 19 White, No. 21 Westside.

The top seed: Tocoi Creek. Year two is already a winner for the Toros, who might be on course for a deep playoff run. Oklahoma-committed midfielder Sophia Vaughan (5 goals, 4 assists) is at the heart of many of Tocoi Creek's highlights.

Area bubble team: Paxon. With the ninth-best ranking in the region, the Golden Eagles are on the wrong side of the bubble, and they're likely too many rating points (5.289) behind to make up the gap. So their only realistic road to the postseason means earning the automatic bid.

Player to watch: Peyton Thomas, Beachside. The freshman forward is into double figures in goals and is already helping to make Northeast Florida's newest public school a soccer contender.

DISTRICT 3-3A

At campus sites

Schedule: Jan. 25, Jackson at Bolles, 7 p.m.; Wolfson at Trinity Christian, 7 p.m.; Bishop Snyder at Episcopal, 7 p.m.; Baldwin at Providence, 7 p.m.; Jan. 27, Wolfson-Trinity Christian winner vs. Jackson-Bolles winner, 7 p.m.; Bishop Snyder-Episcopal winner vs. Baldwin-Providence winner, 7 p.m.; Jan. 31, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 2 Bolles, No. 5 Providence, No. 10 Episcopal, No. 12 Trinity Christian, No. 13 Wolfson, No. 17 Bishop Snyder, No. 21 Baldwin, No. 25 Jackson.

The top seed: Bolles. It's a year of transition for the Bulldogs, but the nine-time state champions know how to win, and when the ball arrives at the feet of Kentucky-committed attacking midfielder Annalise Cannada (7 goals, 11 assists), anything can happen.

Area bubble team: Episcopal. The Eagles have ground to make up, and that likely means reaching the district final to have a chance. Keep an eye on Charlotte Ritter and Kynsley Young on the counterattack.

Player to watch: Audrey Howard, Wolfson. With 20 goals this season, the junior has already proven that she's a threat against the district's top seeds. She scored two goals against Episcopal and one each against Bolles and Providence.

DISTRICT 4-3A

At P.K. Yonge

Schedule: Jan. 25, Trinity Catholic at Newberry, 4 p.m.; Fort White at Williston, 6 p.m.; Interlachen at Keystone Heights, 8 p.m.; Jan. 27, Fort White-Williston winner vs. Interlachen-Keystone Heights winner, 5 p.m.; Trinity Catholic-Newberry winner at P.K. Yonge, 7 p.m.; Jan. 31, championship, 7 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 1 P.K. Yonge, No. 7 Keystone Heights, No. 14 Williston, No. 15 Newberry, No. 18 Ocala Trinity Catholic, No. 22 Fort White, No. 26 Interlachen.

The top seed: P.K. Yonge. On paper a favorite for the final four, the Blue Wave has inundated most of its opponents this year by a combined score of 63-19, led by sophomore Faith Hardy (26 goals, 11 assists).

Area bubble team: Keystone Heights. At seventh in the regional standings, they're likely safe unless multiple surprise teams snatch automatic bids in the region. Keystone has won its last nine and won't be an easy team for anybody to meet in the postseason, because of…

Player to watch: Kiersten Shaw, Keystone Heights. Statistically, the sophomore is the most prolific finisher in Florida. With 63 goals this year, she's up to 188 for her Keystone career going back to seventh grade. Four more goals would match the 67 of St. Johns Country Day's Anna Martorana in 2004-05.

DISTRICT 3-2A

At St. Johns Country Day

Schedule: Jan. 26, First Baptist Christian vs. St. Joseph, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31, Christ's Church vs. University Christian, 5:30 p.m.; First Baptist Christian-St. Joseph winner vs. St. Johns Country Day, 7:20 p.m.; Feb. 2, championship, 5:30 p.m.

Region rankings: No. 1 St. Johns Country Day, No. 3 University Christian, No. 4 Christ's Church, No. 9 St. Joseph, No. 15 Bunnell First Baptist Christian.

The top seed: St. Johns Country Day. Winners of the last 11 state championships, the Spartans stand No. 2 in the national MaxPreps standings and can be expected to cruise through the playoffs up until a potential meeting with Lakeland Christian down the road.

Area bubble team: St. Joseph. Can the Flashes leapfrog Jefferson County or Seven Rivers Christian to get into the tournament field? Beating St. Johns Country Day in the district semis will be no easy feat, so St. Joseph may have a nervous week watching to see how they move in the ranking system.

Player to watch: Lauryn Mateo, St. Johns Country Day. Committed to Embry-Riddle, the five-year starter for the Spartans is equally adept at finishing off headers in the box and dashing past defenders on the dribble and forms a terrific triangle with senior Avery Raimondo (4 goals, 16 assists) and freshman Sydney Schmidt (14 goals, 11 assists).

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: FHSAA girls soccer 2022-2023: Northeast Florida district tournament previews