MIDDLEBURG - With Italian exchange student Olivia Rigazzi smashing in three goals in her first foray on American soil and Fleming Island forward Jonathan Rodriguez honing in for four goals for the Golden Eagles, soccer in the area blasted off to a fast-flying start this week.
Rigazzi, who was purportedly in an appeals process with FHSAA regarding her eligibility because her plans were to stay just one semester, reevaluated her plans, made the proper channels to stay for the full soccer season, and made the most of her return to the Bronco lineup for coach Joy Rosano with three goals in the season-opening 3-1 win over Ridgeview.
Unfortunately, the Broncos fell 2-1 in their second game to Menendez with two first-period goals by Menendez.
Middleburg returns to action with unbeaten Oakleaf hosting Rosano's troops as the Knights knocked off region finalist Clay in game one, 1-0, then smashed Paxon 7-0 for a quick win streak for coach Matt Cermak. Freshman Leila Doyle scored the lone goal against Clay off an assist from fellow frosh Janessa Sanchez while the Paxon blowout saw the Lady Knights hit for three in the first half, and four in the second half with a third freshman, Aryana Weintraub scoring two goals. Oakleaf, with obvious team speed against Clay, rifled up 37 shots on goal against Paxon.
Cermak's squad is made up of underclassmen with just two seniors; Cat Busatto and Lela Thomas.
Oakleaf has Middleburg and unbeaten (2-0) Nease, 6A region finalist last year losing to 6A champion Ponte Vedra, coming to town this week; on November 12 and November 14. Nease is chock full of returners from last year's team that went 13-4-3. Nease beat Menendez 8-0 and Providence 1-0.
At St. Johns Country Day School, the Lady Spartans are without All-American star Sydney Schmidt who appears to be leaning toward her international status, and that has the Spartans near mortal as coach Mike Pickett got an early 2-0 loss to Bartram Trail after opening with a 2-0 win over Wolfson.
Bartram Trail, who lost in overtime to Creekside in the region final last year, is a perennial 7A state champion challenger and has been ranked number one in the USA a times as has St. Johns Country Day School in the past decade.
Clay High, a region finalist last year, opened with a tough 1-0 loss to Oakleaf then a 2-2 tie with Sandalwood with two early goals by the Blue Devils.
Pickett's usually precision approach to soccer is still working out the kinks in the season-opening phases with Bree Barry, a sophomore, and junior Victoria Sarka getting the two goals against Wolfson with assists from returning powerhouses Reygan Ropero on the sideline and Cece Nowicki, a senior, manning the middle of the field.
Pickett's journey goes his normal schedule with 6A-Niceville (region semifinals last year), PK Yonge (3A Final Four last year) next up; November 15 and November 19 with 6A state champions Ponte Vedra on November 22, and a trip to Fleming Island on December 3.

For Ridgeview, long-tenured coach Trevor Clarke is now the assistant coach with former Panther star Autumn Woodward at the head coach spot. Woodward, a scoring machine for Clarke in her day, hopes to bring her college scoring prowess from Louisiana Tech to the Panther program. Ridgeview opened with a 3-1 loss to Middleburg and a 2-1 loss to Keystone Heights.

Keystone Heights coach Roger Laurent was optimistic about his very young team that is minus a handful of grads that delivered lots of goals and wins last year.
"Two seniors, the rest younger," said Laurent. "We will have some time to get right, but they seem to be good with coaching and showing good effort."
Against Ridgeview, goals came from sophomores Taylor Buchanan and Kaylee Park with six shots on goal thwarted by three goalies; all sophomores.
Keystone Heights opened with a 3-1 loss to Columbia before the Ridgeview win and a Friday 8-0 win over Palatka on Friday behind four goals by sophomore Kayden Huntley and two from Park.
Keystone Heights has road trips to Eastside and PK Yonge this week.
At Fleming Island, returning coach Taylor Berry had one of the strongest returning rosters, got stung by 2A power PK Yonge with a 1-0 loss on season opening day, but got four goals from Rylie Gardner to smash Mandarin 6-0 in game two. Berry has a trip to Tocoi Creek, then Stanton in town before a matchup with Creekside on November 19 and St. Johns Country Day School on December 3.
Orange Park returns the sister scoring machinery of Rylynn and Ryanne Robinson (56 goals combined last year) and has a 3-1 opening loss to Episcopal and a 7-0 win over Crescent City with Menendez and Ridgeview on the schedule. Orange Park has seasoned goalie Anna Wages back with 51 saves last year in a 14-3 season for the Raiders.