Buckingham County ran into a steamroller Wednesday night when the Knights went toe-to-toe with two-time Group A champion George Mason and the Mustangs ended Buckingham’s incredible season with a 7-0 victory to secure another Group A tournament berth.
Buckingham, who edged out Appomattox earlier in the week in triple overtime, soldiered through the 90-degree plus heat but Mason made things tough almost immediately when the Mustangs connected on their first goal in the sixth minute. Jordan Robarge unleashed a 25-yard bullet for that score and set the stage for an incredible night for the Mason senior. Robarge piled up four of the Mustangs’ seven goals. Harris Schaffer, Paul Darmstadtler, Eion Oosterbaan rounded out the Mason squad’s scoring.
Still, Mason held just a 2-0 lead at the break, with Buckingham staying within striking distance. But the Mustangs took over in the second half and the floodgates opened.
The loss ended the most accomplished and decorated season in the Knights’ program’s history. Buckingham posted a 9-2-1 record and won the school’s first soccer district title with seniors Russell Taylor (the James River District player of the year) and Marco Knezevic leading the way. Next season, nine starters are slated to return including Mikey Amos, though they’ll be playing a vastly different James River District landscape with Goochland, Nottoway and Bluestone all joining the JRD.