Four years ago, Lakeland midfielder Darcy Pinchbeck got the Southeastern District field hockey Player of the Year award for setting up goals. The past two years, fellow Lady Cavalier Katelyn Smither got the honor for scoring goals. For 2005-06, Kelsey Cutchins was named the top player for stopping goals.

&uot;I’m very excited,&uot; said the senior Lady Cavalier, who was named the district’s top player at a coach’s meeting Sunday night at Nansemond River. &uot;It was a very nice honor. I was surprised, because I’m a goalie, and there are so many other great senior players out there. I’ve always worked hard for everything, and I don’t expect anything to come without hard work.&uot;

Cutchins, who shut out every district rival she faced over the past two seasons, has verbally committed to continue her career at James Madison University.

Lakeland coach Tara Worley, who was named the district’s top coach for the fourth time in six seasons, said it was the first time she remembered a goalkeeper getting the award since Lakeland entered the district.

&uot;I was surprised,&uot; Worley said of her own honor. &uot;It’s just a nice surprise to have your fellow coaches recognize your hard work, and it’s always nice for all these kids to get recognized for what they do year-round to prepare for this time.&uot;

Worley, Cutchins and the rest of the Lady Cavs, district champs five years running, hope that all that preparation pays off in Eastern Region competition, which begins at 1 p.m. today at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. They’ll play Granby, and city-mate Nansemond River battles Maury at 3 p.m.

Other Suffolk All-District representatives included:

First team – Nicole Klee, Lakeland, forward

Katelyn Yandle, River, forward

Ashley Aston, River, forward

Lindsay Cutchins, Lakeland, midfielder

Chelsey Salmon, Lakeland, midfielder

Stephanie Owen, Lakeland, midfielder

Melissa Dunn, Lakeland, defender

Second team-Sara Mazzone, Lakeland, forward

Heather Proffit, River, midfielder

Whitney Witt, King’s Fork, midfielder

Tina Valdevieso, River, midfielder

Erica Rimasse, Lakeland, defender

Lindley Theroux, River, defender

Amber Shaffer, River, goalkeeper

Honorable mention- Ashby Stancill, Lakeland

Lynsey Daughtrey, Lakeland

Andrea Dobbins, Lakeland

Jessica Watahovich, River

Anna Key, River

Sarah Chambers, River

Mary Rose, King’s Fork

Brandi Novak, King’s Fork

Kathryn Babineau, King’s Fork

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com