VIRGINIA BEACH — Sydney and Skylar Miller have had a nearly equal impact on the First Colonial High girls soccer team during their varsity careers.
This season, the identical twins — both headed to play collegiately at Tennessee — each scored 17 goals and had an equal share in guiding First Colonial back to the Class 5 state final.
It was equally difficult to choose one over the other, with both receiving nominations from opposing coaches in the area. So for the first time in the award’s 30-year history, the All-Tidewater Girls Soccer Player of the Year honor is shared by the Miller twins.
“I’m super-excited and just thankful to be the All-Tidewater Player of the Year,” Sydney Miller said. “It’s kind of satisfying knowing that all the hard work finally is paying off, and also being Co-Player of the Year I feel like is just icing on top of the cake.”
Postseason awards have often gone to one twin or the other, but they’ll end their senior years with an award they can share.
“It’s cool because we work hard together, we do everything together,” Skylar Miller said. “I feel like me just getting something or her just getting something kind of stings a little bit because (of) knowing that the other one didn’t get it when we both worked just as hard for that. So us both getting something just is super-special because we both work extremely hard together.”
The sisters have racked up several accolades in their high school careers. Skylar was recently named the Class 5 Player of the Year, earned her fourth all-state first-team appearance and was selected the Class 5 Region A Player of the Year. Sydney was the Region Player of the Year last year and earned her third all-state first-team honor and fourth all-region first-team honor this year. Both have been named to the All-Tidewater first team during all four years of high school.
First Colonial head coach Joe Tucei’s reaction to the Miller twins being recognized as Co-Players of the Year was short and to the point.
“It’s about time,” he said.
Sydney and Skylar may not have been lights-out scorers this year — though they both had their fair share of goals — but their impact in games was evident.
Both scored 17 goals apiece this season while also keeping their teammates involved in the offense. Sydney led the Patriots with 24 assists and Skylar was right behind her with 14. Together, the twins accounted for 52% of First Colonial’s assists, 37% of its points and 32% of its total scoring.
Tucei felt this year the twins’ biggest improvement was ball distribution while also stepping up into their roles in the locker room and becoming “great” captains.
“Teams would key on them and then they were able to distribute the ball,” Tucei said. “Then, of course, we had players that were able to, obviously, put the ball in the back of the net. They’re versatile, they’re savvy, their soccer IQ is way up there. If they needed to drop in and defend, they would defend. If they needed to go play the flank, they would play the flank. Just the versatility of both of them. Also this year, unlike the rest, they really did well on distributing the ball to other players, getting everybody else involved. That makes a lot of difference because it keeps everybody happy.”
The Miller twins helped get First Colonial back to the Class 5 state title game this year, the third time in their high school career. Although the Patriots lost to Kellam in penalty kicks, Skylar and Sydney said it doesn’t take away from a year that saw First Colonial go 18-1-1 and win a region championship.
“Obviously, I wish we would have won the championship, but I couldn’t have asked for a better team and just a better year,” Sydney Miller said. “It was so fun. I’m so proud of our whole team because we did accomplish a lot.”
First Colonial has had two other players named All-Tidewater Player of the Year, the last being Karleigh Minson in 2021 and 2022. The Miller sisters have solidified themselves as two of the best to come out of the Patriots’ program and hope they leave behind a legacy of hard work and fierce competitiveness.
“The legacy that we’re leaving at FC is huge to me,” Skylar Miller said. “We’re getting a lot of attention, especially from the younger girls soccer players who are DM-ing me on Instagram after games asking for pictures. It’s super-sweet and wholesome knowing that because I used to be that little girl that liked to look up to other people. So being able to be someone like that gives me even more motivation because I know like these younger girls are watching me.”
While this chapter is coming to an end, Skylar’s and Sydney’s soccer careers are just getting started. This fall, the twins will be swapping their Patriot blue for Volunteers orange when they begin playing Division I soccer in the SEC at Tennessee.
“They’re outstanding players,” Tucei said. “I’m gonna miss them (and) the team will miss them.”
Michael Sauls, (757) 803-5774, michael.sauls@virginiamedia.com
All-Tidewater Girls Soccer Players of the Year
2024: Skylar Miller and Sydney Miller, First Colonial
2023: JaShyra Johnson, Kellam
2022: Karleigh Minson, First Colonial
2021: Karleigh Minson, First Colonial
2020: Season canceled (pandemic)
2019: Kaylee Kozlowski, Kellam
2018: Idelys Vazquez, First Colonial
2017: Star White, Maury
2016: Star White, Maury
2015: Darby Moore, Maury
2014: Alani Johnson, Cape Henry
2013: Alani Johnson, Cape Henry
2012: Brittany Krause, Cox
2011: Jessie Klamut, Cox
2010: Jessie Klamut, Cox
2009: Emory Camper, Cox
2008: Brittany Michels, Kellam
2007: Kristen Carden, Cox
2006: Liza Woodward, Cox
2005: Chichi Nweke, Princess Anne
2004: Meredyth Gehrig, Cox
2003: Kristen Furlough, Kellam
2002: Amanda Swiader, Cox
2001: Amanda Swiader, Cox
2000: Mindy Nixon, Princess Anne
1999: Sally Harrison, Kempsville
1998: Amy Caddies, Princess Anne
1997: Lauren Rafal, Kempsville
1996: Angela Hucles, Norfolk Academy
1995: Angela Hucles, Norfolk Academy
1994: Angela Hucles, Norfolk Academy
1993: Amy Rosenbaum, First Colonial
