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Impact leaves its mark in Jefferson Cup win

March 30, 2007 12:35 am

By KURT NICOLL

Since her big sister, Bailey, already lays claim to the nickname "Big Impact," maybe Skylar Wilcox can switch hers from "Little Impact" to "Value-size Impact."

Wilcox and the other members of the U10 FASA Impact White soccer team of Fredericksburg were in high spirits last weekend after sweeping all four games en route to a first-place finish in the prestigious Jefferson Cup tournament in Richmond.

Wilcox generally plays the striker position for the Impact. Sister Bailey is a member of the U18 Impact team and a soccer standout at Riverbend High School.

The Jefferson final produced considerable excitement as the Impact was matched against the PWSI Courage Red--a team that it had played three times in the past.

Neither team managed to score in regulation or overtime, forcing a penalty shoot out. Games were played seven-a-side for the U9 and U10 age divisions.

Impact's first three shooters all converted, and after the Courage missed three straight after converting its first, victory was assured.

Liz Balgoyen and Mattie "Mad Dog" Amos shared goal-keeping duties for the champions and were in top form, undoubtedly due in part to coach Pete Cinalli implementing a weekly practice for his keepers.

Rachael Leaf turned in a gutty effort, playing in all four games despite suffering a sprained ankle.

Cinalli hoped to use the St. Patrick's Day tournament in Stafford as a tuneup for the event, but inclement weather forced the cancellation of the area event. It wasn't a lost weekend, though, as two of the St. Patrick's Day entries, the Stafford Sparks and Alexandria Thunder, agreed to scrimmage the Impact at Hotspur Park.

A victory in the Jefferson Cup--ranked the No. 4 youth girls tournament in the country and drawing teams from 27 states and Canada)--will open doors for the Impact White in tournaments it chooses to enter later this year.

The team, consisting of players from Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, lost all three games in the first tournament it entered two years ago.

While graduating from recreation league play, the Impact players quickly honed their skills and enjoyed a breakout year of select soccer in 2006--winning three of the gold-level tournaments they competed in and finishing runner-up in a fourth.

While on-field success is gratifying, Cinalli indicated the major stress of the program is developing a player's skills and learning how to play as a team.

The Impact opens league play in WAGS on Sunday.

Sandy Suhling is hoping her second trip to Buffalo, N.Y., is much more enjoyable than her first.

The 16-year-old North Stafford High School student is one of five area swimmers slated to represent Virginia Swimming in the Eastern Zone short course swimming championships this weekend at Flickenger Aquatic Center.

Suhling is entered in the 200-yard individual medley and may compete in one or more relays. Fellow Stingrays Club teammates Ian Morales is entered in the 50 and 100 free and Jonathan Pins in the 50 and 100 breast.

Suhling also qualified for the meet in 2005, but a bout with the flu sabotaged her chances for a high finish.

Representing the QDD team are North Stafford's Kelly Reightler in the 100 butterfly and Colonial Forge's Caroline Simmons in the 50 and 100 free.

Swimmers gained individual berths with first- or second-place finishes at the age-group championships held earlier this month at Newport News.

Sensei Angie Spencer and Leigh D'Lugos brought back gold medals after competing in the Petersburg Karate Open recently.

Spencer placed first in women's black belt kata, second in black belt weapons and fourth in black belt sparring. D'Lugos placed first in men's and women's green/brown belt weapons and was runner-up in women's green/brown belt kata.

Both train at Spencer's Isshinryu Karate in Falmouth.

A new challenge series of open slo-pitch softball challenge series for Class B, C, D and E teams will be staged this year in Manassas.

Points for the Tanel 360 Cup will be determined by the outcome of the following seven tournaments: Lester Leonard Early Bird (March 31-April 1), Officer Pennington Memorial (April 28-29), Valley View (May 19-20), Capital Classic (June 9-10), Fourth of July Firecracker (June 30-July 1), Battle of Manassas Classic (July 21-22) and Northern Virginia Championships (Aug. 25-26).

Teams interested in participating in the series can register online at cvasa.com or contact Brad Thomas at
Email: northernvirginiasoftball@verizon.net.