Western Albemarle girls lacrosse has so many different dynamic threats. Even if an opposing defense can hold Sophie Lanahan, who was coming off a three-goal, seven assist performance Saturday against E.C. Glass, to just a single goal, it doesn’t mean that the job is done.
It certainly wasn’t Tuesday night for Rockbridge who despite limiting Lanahan to that single goal, couldn’t slow down the Warriors, who won 12-11 in the Class 4 state semifinals, vaulting Western back into the state title match for the second year in a row.
Getting there wasn’t easy despite that productive offense as Rockbridge continues to improve after losing to Western 17-7 in the state semis a year ago and falling just 11-7 back in May. The Warriors built an 8-3 first half lead, but Rockbridge came roaring out in the second half and cut the lead to 8-7. Western bounced back with goals by Katie Alhusen and Maggie Craytor who each finished with hat tricks and led 10-7 with 10 minutes left to play.
Eventually, Rockbridge managed to tie the game at 10-10 with 16 minutes left, putting the Warriors’ backs against the wall. Western didn’t wilt though. Lanahan’s lone goal was critical as she scored with 2:19 to play to push the Western lead to 11-10. Mallory Greene followed with her second goal of the game with 31 seconds left after Western took nearly two minutes off the clock.
Rockbridge scored at the buzzer to cut the lead to 12-11, but Western had the win and kept their season alive.
Reeve Goldstein dished out six assists on the day to go with one goal while Gigi Hathaway and Alhusen had two assists each and Craytor added one to go with her three goals. Western moved the ball well assisting on 11 of their 12 goals.
Defensively, goalie Kennedy Buntrock made 10 saves including several tough stops that kept Rockbridge from taking control.
Greene finished with a team-high seven draw controls while Alhusen had three as part of her stat-sheet stuffing effort.
The Warriors will now face Dominion, the same squad that they played in last year’s state final, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Massaponax High School.
