First she had to wait patiently for the pass to get there as field conditions played a role all game, but when Kendall Ballard wound up to shoot she hesitated just for a moment to make sure the ball was settled before she let loose. It was both a wise decision and one that was rewarded. With nine minutes to play the Charlottesville senior put her team out in front in the Region 4A North tournament final on the road against Eastern View. The Black Knights held firm during those final nine minutes to walk away winners, 2-1.
“This was two very similar programs playing each other,” said Charlottesville coach Lindsay Larson. “We have so much heart and energy between us two. We both have been underdogs and we both have so much team speed.”
The first half might have been statically dominated by Eastern View, but the Black Knights defense found a way to bend and not break. Charlottesville was outshot 4-1 in the first half and spent the majority of it on its heels defensively and simply trying to clear and get downfield. With less than a minute to play before the break, the Black Knights were able to earn a short corner. Ballard connected off a pass from Genevieve Riley to break the scoreless tie.
“Finally getting that corner it was just us getting back to the way we know how to play,” Ballard said. “It was everything we’ve worked on all season. It was so great to finally have that release. It was ‘Ok, we’re here now.'”
Eastern View came out and drew a penalty stroke just three minutes into the second half. There Jordan Howard was able to equalize the score on a shot to the top shelf of the cage. After that, it was back and forth.
“I’m just so impressed with this team because we’ve found that mental toughness back,” Ballard said. “It’s gotten us through this where we’ve been down or been tied. We’re able to know that (the opposition) has scored and it’s okay, we can move past it.”
The second half was much more balanced than the first with the Charlottesville offense finding its legs and applying greater pressure — the Black Knights had six short corners after halftime. After the ball simply wouldn’t roll Charlottesville’s way on a pair of short corners with 19 and 12 minutes to play, the Black Knights got the break they needed. Ballard’s second goal from another Riley pass set the tone for Charlottesville the rest of the way.
“The biggest concern on grass is just getting control of the ball,” Ballard said. “That slowed the game down but we were able to get it together and pull it out.”
The Cyclones had one scoring opportunity in the final nine minutes after Ballard’s goal but could not get a shot on goal. Conversely, the Black Knights were able to maintain possession and stay in position to go to work on the clock and grind out the win.
“We’ve always been slow to start this season,” Larson said. “We have to feel out the other team first and then we’ve got it. In the second half we just come out a different team.”
Charlottesville (18-4) now heads to the Group 4A state tournament next week in Virginia Beach.
