After making three road trips last week to win two matches and claim the Region 4D title, the Western Albemarle boys soccer team enjoyed a final evening in front of the Crozet faithful on Tuesday. But even being at home didn’t mean things were easy.
“Honestly, when your goalie’s having to have a good game, it means a lot of things are going wrong for you,” said Western coach Milo Oakland. “(Cullen Webster) really stepped up as the last man. And the freshmen and sophomores we were playing really stepped up and gave it every bit they had.”
Junior Alex Keeton netted two goals, while Webster and the Warriors’ defense kept Region 4C runner-up Millbook off the board, sending Western through to the Class 4 semifinals with a 2-0 victory.
Millbrook certainly looked formidable right out of the gate, with action in the opening minutes focused deep in their offensive zone as Western looked hesitant to track down loose balls.
“They had very strong, athletic, and talented center midfielders that really controlled the game,” Oakland said. “I think we started getting some opportunities by being a little more direct and playing away from their center mids.
The Warriors got on the board in the 12th minute when sophomore Connor Spano fed Keeton from deep down the left side. Keeton controlled about seven yards out and directed a grounder to the center of the goal, beating a sliding defender on his right hip and not allowing Millbrook’s keeper, who had slipped reacting to the centering pass, to recover.
“It was a long ball in and Connor made a great run and I just saw an opportunity to run to the middle,” said Keeton.
The Pioneers had a prime opportunity to pull even in the 18th minute when a foul just a yard outside the box set up a free kick. As the last defender in front of a diving Webster, junior Carter Shaffer got a foot on the initial shot, but Millbrook quickly collected the loose ball. However, an open look from 13 yards out caromed off the top crossbar.
Western took a 1-0 lead into the break. Millbrook then began the second half with another offensive flurry, but their two best shots sailed high. Their best look of the game came during the 58th minute, after Webster ran well out of the box to direct the ball out of bounds along the sideline. The Pioneers launched the ensuing throw-in to the center, which was redirected on goal, but Webster made a diving save.
“Really from the beginning of the game until about the 60-minute mark, [their] center midfielders really controlled the game,” said Oakland. “It was all we could do to find ways through them or around them just to create some opportunities.”
Keeton netted an insurance goal in the 73rd minute after gathering a loose bouncing ball in the center and sending it home.
“Alex had a great game,” Oakland said. “The goals were both very athletic and timely. He hunts the ball. He was the one they had the most trouble with on our side.”
Western next faces Smithfield from Region A, who knocked off Region B champion Chancellor on Tuesday night. The match will be played at Chancellor High School in Spotsylvania County on Friday morning.
“At the beginning of the season, you say the goal is to make the state tournament, so that’s all you can ask for,” said Oakland.
