HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

A window of opportunity exists for the undefeated River Bluff girls’ soccer team.

For 7 seniors who have played since the program’s inception as 7th graders, a 1st ever region title appears there for the taking.

Brimming with confidence after winning the prestigious Viking Cup, River Bluff opened Region 5-5A play with a 4-0 win at Dutch Fork.

“We would like to say this might be our year for region, but we’re going to take it one game at a time,” head coach K.C. Dunbaker said.

Jordan Mishoe and Sophia Monsma collaborated on 2 goals and assists.

With fellow seniors Hannah Coats, Kennedy Duffie, Riley Shields and Estefania Lanzagorta, they will provide the on-field experience with support from the sidelines of injured senior Sara Kelly.

With experience, Dunbaker believes team chemistry is their biggest strength. The junior corps are led by All-State forward Nicolle Malpartida. Sophomore midfielder Melanie Slattery is among the team leaders in goals and freshman goalkeeper Katie Freiberger has posted 4 shutouts this season.

Dunbaker believes this it’s the best he’s seen at the program and should help in their quest to become region champion.

Road matchups this week against Chapin and White Knoll precede a March 26 showdown in The Swamp against Lexington. The Lady Wildcats opened last week with a 46-match region-winning streak and despite major graduation losses, Dunbaker said they still present a challenge.

“They still have a quality class as well,” he said. “Coach (Chris) Fryland, he’s always going to always have them prepared, always going to be hungry coming after us.”

River Bluff (10-0-1, 1-0) has already overcome a pair of “hurdles” in the form of 1st ever wins over Wando and defending Class 5A champion J.L. Mann at the Viking Cup. The Lady Gators hope to reach even more unchartered heights as the season continues.

SILVER FOXES SURVIVE

For the 2nd time this season, it appeared a nationally-ranked boys’ soccer team would fall at River Bluff High.

It happened on Feb. 24 when defending Class 5A champion Wando, which finished last year’s USA Today Super 25 poll number 1 and was riding a state-record 58-match winning streak, fell to Dutch Fork 2-1 in the final of the Capital City Cup.

The victory rocketed the Silver Foxes to number 2 in this year’s inaugural Super 25 poll. Last Friday, Dutch Fork found itself trailing in The Swamp 2-0 at halftime.

Second-half goals by Damon Williams and Elliott Fish helped Dutch Fork tie the match and force overtime. The match came down to penalty kicks. Dutch Fork converted all 5 of its attempts to come away with the 5-4 victory to improve to 8-0 overall, 2-0 in Region 5-5A.