Western Albemarle’s Kamila Setaro has the greenlight to take free kicks from right around the penalty box, though junior midfielder Marina Clark usually takes the bulk of the Warriors’ opportunities. But late in Western’s battle with archrival Charlottesville Monday night, Setaro let her coach Jake Desch know that she wanted the chance.
“I kind of looked at him and he was like ‘do you want it?’,” Setaro said. “I figured back post was my best hope.”
From the left side, Setaro unleashed a beautiful, arching shot over the Charlottesville wall in front of the goal, tucking it with a slight bend into the far right post. The third and final goal for Western finished off CHS for a 3-1 victory that gave the Warriors a regular season sweep of the Black Knights. It was a critical step for a talented but still developing Warriors squad (there’s only one senior on the roster)
“It’s all about her confidence, if she wants to take it, she has the right away,” Desch said. “She can place the ball perfectly. From a short distance like that it’s tough to get it over the wall and in but she can do it.”
Western put together a strong possession game, bouncing back from a pair of Jefferson District losses to Monticello and Fluvanna County last week that left the Warriors in third place going into the second half of JD play. The victory vaulted the Warriors back into the title hunt where they now sit tied for second with the Black Knights and a game behind Monticello who has one loss and a tie with a lot of soccer left on the slate.
“We’ve struggled to (close games out),” Desch said. “We’ll get a one-goal lead and and struggle to do that. Today was great.”
The gamewinner for the Warriors came with 28:24 when Clark lifted a nifty entry pass toward the team’s lone senior, Lauren Giovanoli, who finished it off and put Western up 2-1. Clark scored in the first half for Western while Lena Womack notched a goal for Charlottesville that led to the 1-1 halftime tie.
Western’s possession game paid off as keeper Emily Marbury was taxed with just making three saves on the night while the Warriors outshot Charlottesville 12-6.
Western will travel to Louisa County Thursday while Charlottesville will try and bounce back at home against first-place Monticello the same night.
