Madison Masloff was frustrated. She’d just drawn a green card during the second overtime against George Masonand Western coach Milo Oakland was considering substituting for her during the 7v7 period.
With the Conference 22 title on the line, Masloff was having none of it.
“I was really mad I got a green card, but it was my fault,” Masloff said. “I was just determined to go back in and try and win.”
Masloff re-entered and a couple of minutes later, she corralled a ball on a rebound near the top of the circle, drove toward the goal and buried it in the bottom right corner. The goal lifted Western to a 1-0 victory over Mason and a Conference 22 title.
“It’s a huge win because it gives us a better position in regionals and because we get to play at home which will be really exciting for us,” Masloff said.
The Warriors will host Warhill in the first round of the Region 4A West tournament.
Getting there was far from easy though. George Mason, who has played in seven overtime games now and won the last six of them, came in with a pack-it-in approach on defense at the expense of creating chances of their own. It worked, holding Western scoreless and forcing the game into overtime while the Warriors’ keeper wasn’t even forced to make a single save.
“It was one of those strange games where you felt like you were in control and you feel like you should be up, but the other team’s strategy is just so effective,” Oakland said. “In the first half we were getting countless opportunities.”
Key to neutralizing Mason’s game plan was making sure that the Mustangs couldn’t counter attack with their leading scorer Sarah Lubnow. Hannah Weyher locked down Lubnow, playing big-time for the Warriors defensively.
Western is now two wins away from a state semifinal berth. The next step in that process is Monday night against Warhill.
