The Lady Stallions from Queen’s Grant High School finished third in the Uwharrie Athletic Conference with a 13-8 record last season.  The team scored 99 goals and allowed 50.  The Stallions lost Madison Pachecou, their outstanding goal keeper, who had 128 saves but has graduated.  She was a vital piece of the puzzle that kept the team in every game against some more powerful and experienced conference competition.

The team’s strengths are going to be from the offensive play by Haley Fisher, a junior center back, Emily Blythe, mid-fielder, who will play on the wings, and including forwards Asia Edmonds and Kelly Bridges.  Also, returning off of a solid freshman season is Hayden Pacheco, who scored 17 goals last year for the varsity Lady Stallions.

Seniors Jennifer DeYoung on defense, and Vivian Molina, a mid-fielder and defender, are expected to make important contributions for this team to remain competitive against the top rated programs.

The team has three freshman goal keepers, however, who have stood out above the rest and will be getting the starting job. Freshman Brianna Vruels, who has a lot of upside potential, has been a pleasant surprise, according to Coach Eli Pacheco.

“It is going to take a totally focused team effort to overcome perennial powerhouse Union Academy, and to compete head to head with Gray Stone Day.  They are the two best teams in the conference; both teams have depth and are very talented.  However, we do have some good talent, so our goal is to overcome Gray Stone Day who finished in second place in the conference ahead of QGHS in 2016,” said Coach Pacheco.

These girls appear to be a spirited, competitive and tough group.  They also seem to have good potential, and the team actually has more depth than last season, which is a big plus for the program.