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Big second half surge pushes Western girls soccer past Fluvanna

Photo by Bart Isley

Western Albemarle’s girls soccer team has played four games in seven days with a wide range of results. The Warriors’ best effort in that stretch may have come Wednesday as the Warriors knocked off Fluvanna County 5-0.

 

Western was particularly effective in the second half when the Warriors broke open a 1-0 halftime lead and pulled away.

 

“In the beginning we weren’t switching the ball that well but toward the end we possessed the ball really well and switched it through the back,” said freshman Julia Berg. “We eventually got a lot of runs in.”

 

The Warriors’ first goal came when Cameron Hucek served up a free kick with 25:30 to play in the first half. Abigail Zimmerman headed that ball toward the goal and after a scramble by the Fluvanna goalie it dribbled into the net. Hucek put the pressure on the Flucos with several impressive free kicks.

 

“We’re blessed with some good free kick-takers and Cameron hits a great ball,” Desch said.

 

It also helped then when Hucek and the Warriors’ other free kick takers stepped up to the ball, Western’s other players took a different approach then they have recently. That helped spark the string of second half goals including Berg who headed in a ball off a corner for the Warriors’ fourth goal.

 

“We’ve been practicing a lot this week being more aggressive off of corner kicks both defensively and offensively, it was great to see Julia meet the ball at the highest point and get some good pace on it,” said Western Albemarle coach Jake Desch.

 

Caitlin Harvey, Katrine Berg and Savannah Wilson scored the Warriors’ other three goals.While Western Albemarle surged in the second half, it was clear Fluvanna got tired down the stretch. The Flucos lost some key players from last year’s squad and they’re still trying to put together all the pieces.

 

“We’re kind of figuring out a new system and we’re plugging players into new spots (creating) kind of a domino effect,” said Fluvanna coach Kristin Davis. “We’re trying to find everybody’s best position this year and then dealing with injuries. We just can’t seem to get healthy.”

 

Still, the Flucos were drastically improved from their first meeting with the Warriors, particularly with a strong first half where they essentially played Western even for much of the game.

 

The Warriors will face Jefferson Forest Saturday while the Flucos travel to take on Powhatan Monday night.

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