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VIRGINIA BEACH — Sydney Miller registered a goal and four assists to power host First Colonial to an 8-0 victory over Menchville Tuesday night in the Class 5 girls soccer state quarterfinals.
Miller was a force on both wings all night — she combined with her twin sister, Skylar, for some interweaving play off a short corner from the right side and then slid a pass to the penalty spot to find Camryn Marcondes streaking through the middle. Marcondes slotted in the opening goal less than five minutes into the game.
“I just tried to go out there and have some fun and just find my teammates and set them up to score some goals,” Sydney Miller said. “That’s how I try to do it when I’m out there.”
Sydney Miller was then on the receiving end of a give-and-go down the left side of the penalty box and calmly stroked the ball into the net to put the Patriots up 2-0 midway through the first half.
That second goal seemingly spurred the victors on, and they started to press even deeper into the Menchville defensive third. Skylar Miller broke through with the Patriots’ third goal, powering through the middle of the field, slipping past her defender and curling a shot in with less than 13 minutes remaining before halftime.
Less than three minutes later, Emma Woods hit a centering pass to Izzy Coshland, who fired a goal into the top-right corner to give the hosts a 4-0 lead heading into the break.
Shortly after the restart, Sydney Miller assisted on three goals off of corner kicks during a six-minute span, connecting with Ava Bourne, Kylie White and Keaveny Dull to push the Patriots’ lead to 7-0.
“We practice set pieces every day,” Patriots coach Joe Tucei said. “Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t — today, we were on.”
Bourne then chipped in a corner kick that Victoria Hannah knocked in with less than 24 minutes remaining for the final margin for the Patriots, who didn’t allow a shot all game. The final whistle was blown just four minutes later.
First Colonial faces Midlothian — a 2-1 quarterfinal winner over Briar Woods — in the semifinals at Glen Allen High on Friday.
“I’m excited to face either team,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a tough match and we’re ready for it.”
Added Tucei about keeping his team focused and relaxed before the next game: “It’s our fourth year in a row, so we’re kind of used to it. We just have to make sure we have enough time for travel and we’re not rushed or anything.”
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