It was rainy and the ball was slick, so Western Albemarle’s girls soccer team wanted to put the pressure on Staunton River’s defense and keeper early.
“What our coach talked to us about was that with the conditions, it’s likely that the goalie will fumble it or it will take a weird skip,” said senior Sarah Watkins. “We just wanted to bombard the goalie and see if we could get some rebounds or lucky goals or something.”
The strategy worked as the Warriors dominated possession and earned a 3-0 victory in the Region 3A West semifinal to punch their ticket to the state tournament for the first time in 13 years. Western unleashed a barrage of shots including 18 that were on goal, and a number of which were from way outside the box. One of the very first ones found the back of the net, a Watkins blast from 25 yards out in the first three minutes of the game.
“We’ve been working all year on high pressing because we have some really fast forwards,” Watkins said. “One of my teammates put (the defender) under pressure and then I was able to win the ball, cut it around her and take the shot and I got it where I wanted it.”
Where Watkins wanted it was the opposite top corner, and she curled the shot in beautifully to give Western a 1-0 lead.
“We usually have some butterflies in the first few minutes and it takes us a few minutes to settle in,” Watkins said. “I think that gave us some confidence to go ahead and attack and play our style.”
Western made it 2-0 when Lillian Meggs took a free kick just short of midfield and blasted it toward the box. It bounced once and it looked as if Caitlin Harvey would get a leg on it, but didn’t and the Staunton River keeper couldn’t get a bead on it either as it found the back of the net.
“That was amazing — whenever the defense scores it’s always exciting,” Watkins said. “She has a big foot and she really deserved that goal.”
The Warriors’ defense went largely untested on the night as the Western midfield time and time again re-directed potential Staunton River breakaways and snuffed out any real chances.
Elizabeth Fabiano tacked on a third goal in the second half to give Western a little more cushion, and Staunton River never could find a counter attack to answer the Warriors.
Western will face Blacksburg in the region final after the Bruins beat previously unbeaten Lord Botetourt 5-1. They’ll also play in the Group 3A state semifinals next Friday at Liberty University.
