The four goals ran the gamut from spectacular to almost incidental, but together they vaulted Jefferson District No. 3 seed Charlottesville to a semifinal berth.
The Black Knights rolled 4-0 over Goochland at home, picking up a win against a scrappy Bulldogs squad that battled throughout the contest but couldn’t stifle Charlottesville.
Nick Hazard got the scoring started off an assist from Reuben Chapman in the first half, and Michael Santulli sent home another goal off a Francisco Diego helper.
With a 2-0 lead at the break, Charlottesville refused to let up, and that’s when Joe Nelson put in the accidental goal. The tall senior, who usually plays defense, reached the box at full steam on a loose ball and collided with the Goochland goalie. The ball popped forward and slowly rolled into the goal, Nelson’s reward for solid hustle on the play.
“Joe started as a defender but today he moved up to striker—he gives us a different pace up front,” said Charlottesville coach Stephen Cost. “He’s very smart—he’s one of those kids that sees the game, that is figuring out options. Other players, it has to happen and then they react.”
Conner McCarthy followed Nelson’s stroke of luck and perseverance with a spectacular goa. McCarthy connected with a cross from Pedro Diez-Alvarez for the 4-0 lead later in the second half, increasing Charlottesville’s already sizeable advantage
Gabriel Hunter-Chang had a relatively quiet night in goal, and was forced to come up with just three saves. The pressure will be on the junior from here on out though as Charlottesville’s competition ramps up.
The Black Knights will now take on Western Albemarle in the Jefferson semifinals.
