By Luke Nadkarni / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Albemarle’s girls soccer team fell to visiting Battlefield in a 4-3 penalty shootout on Wednesday night in the AAA Northwest Region semifinals with a berth in the state tournament on the line. One hundred minutes of soccer was not enough to separate the two teams. When the second half clock hit zero, the Patriots and Bobcats were still stuck in a scoreless draw.
Twenty minutes of extra time later, the score remained tied 0-0, and the teams prepared for penalty kicks. Both teams seemingly generated more scoring chances in extra time than they did for all of regulation, but Albemarle goalie Grace Leytham and Battlefield keeper Taylor Kerxton were equal to each challenge.
“They should be proud of themselves,” Albemarle coach Jon Hall said. “We’ve had a heck of a run. The girls just gave it all they had, you can’t ask for more.”
The Patriots went first in the shootout, and senior Maggie Tubridy started things off by burying her shot past a diving Kerxton into the lower left corner of the net. Battlefield struck back as Bri Toelle beat Leytham to even things up.
Carmen Thomas was next for the Patriots, but she was thwarted by Kerxton. Leytham responded by stopping Sarai Arbus to keep the shootout at 1-1 going into round three. Kerxton came up big again for the Bobcats, knocking away Ali Starr’s shot, and this time Battlefield seized control when Stephanie Bruns found the back of the net.
Both teams converted in round four with the help of a couple of fortunate bounces. For the Patriots, Jazzy Loredo beat Kerxton with a shot that ricocheted off the left post and in. Colleen Gawkins kept Battlefield in front as Leytham got a hand on her shot but the ball trickled beyond the goal line to make the score 3-2 Battlefield going into the fifth and final round.
“[Penalty kicks] are hard on everyone,” Hall said. “It’s hard on the keepers, it’s hard on the kicker, and it’s just luck sometimes.”
Abby Davison kept the pressure on Battlefield by nailing her shot, but that was the last time an Albemarle player would kick a ball this season. Battlefield sophomore Becca Callison stepped up and calmly stroked the ball past Leytham to send her team to Friday’s Northwest Region title game. The Bobcats triumphantly celebrated on the field after Callison’s shot.
“I don’t think I should get any credit at all,” Callison said. “My team has worked so well and we do everything together.”
Albemarle will bid farewell to five seniors — Tubridy, defenders Jordan Kinlaw, Lauren Truwit, and Katharine Waldron, as well as midfielder Lizzy Marks.
“We’re losing some magnificent, wonderful ladies.” Hall said.
Hall himself will also not return for the Patriots, as after the game he revealed that he will retire after 11 seasons at the helm for Albemarle.
“We have a great young lady who’s going to take over, (assistant coach) Amy Sherill.” Hall said. “It’s a perfect time.”
