Ponte Vedra opens season at No. 1

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX Varsity 4 Super 6 girls soccer rankings will be published every Thursday during the regular season — except during Thanksgiving and Christmas week. Records are through Nov. 20 games.

News4JAX Varsity 4 Super 6 girls soccer rankings

Rank, school, record, classification

1. Ponte Vedra (3-0-1, Class 6A)

Quality wins: Bishop Kenny, Niceville, Stanton.

Notable: As long as head coach Dave Silverberg is in charge, the Sharks are an annual threat for a championship. He’s got eight state championships, four at Nease and four at Ponte Vedra, including a title last season. The Sharks also have a 1-all draw against Lake Mary, the Class 7A state runner-up last season. Injuries, graduations and players moving will hurt. Losing Jenny Dearie (UNC commit) after just a game is tough and Natalie Brooks (Clemson commit) moved out of the area. Both were All-News4JAX selections last season. But the Sharks still have electric forward Lily Morse and got forward Izzy Whitaker back after she missed her sophomore season with an ACL injury. Those two players are elite. The Sharks haven’t lost since a 1-0 setback on Dec. 15, 2023 to Edgewood and are riding an 18-game unbeaten streak.

2. Bartram Trail (4-0, Class 7A)

Quality wins: P.K. Yonge, St. Johns CD.

Notable: Defense has been sizzling for the Bears. GKs Lily Holden and Megan Waskiewicz have yet to allow a goal. Brooke Gosse and Ali Fletcher have combined for 10 of Bartram’s 16 goals this season. Head coach Jennifer Rodriguez has three state championships in four seasons and the Bears have looked excellent so far, including a 2-0 win over powerful St. Johns to start to the season. That win over St. Johns gives Bartram the edge over Creekside for the No. 2 spot.

3. Creekside (4-0, Class 7A)

Quality wins: Beachside, Edgewood, Fleming Island.

Notable: The Knights, the defending Class 7A state champ, have two titles in the last three years, winning in 2022 and last season under head coach Joe Soto. They have a new head coach in Lexie Messick, who has kept Creekside humming along. The Knights have unbeaten Timber Creek up next on Friday before a Thanksgiving break. The Knights have outscored opponents 18-1 and have an excellent GK in Hailey Smith back in net.

4. St. Johns Country Day (3-1, Class 2A)

Quality wins: Niceville, P.K. Yonge.

Notable: Like Silverberg at Ponte Vedra, St. Johns head coach Mike Pickett is a living legend. His system is proven and the Spartans have 12 state championships under his guidance. Calli Berrang has led the way for St. Johns early, with the lone loss coming to No. 2 Bartram Trail (2-0). They’ve got games with Ponte Vedra in a two-week span (Nov. 22 and Dec. 5).

5. Atlantic Coast (3-0, Class 7A)

Quality wins: Buchholz, Fernandina Beach.

Notable: Solid start for the Stingrays who are coming off an 11-4-3 season. They schedule toughens up quickly, with P.K. Yonge on Friday and Stanton on Tuesday.

6. Beachside (3-1, Class 5A)

Quality win: Episcopal.

Notable: The Barracudas went 11-6-2 in their second season and should continue to make gains this year. Peyton Thomas and Bella Duenas both return following a season where they combined to score 20 goals. The lone loss is a 1-0 to Creekside.

Others

Bishop Kenny (3-1-1, Class 4A); Bolles (3-1-2, Class 3A); Flagler Palm Coast (3-2-1, Class 6A); Oakleaf (4-1, Class 6A); Stanton (5-2, Class 4A); Tocoi Creek (1-2-2, Class 6A).