By Allen Kha/Scrimmageplay.com Contributor
ORANGE— The Orange County and Western Albemarle field hockey teams were hugging the touchline at 7:30 p.m., eager to finally start playing the Jefferson District championship game. The championship game was originally slated for 6:30pm, but was pushed back to 7:30 when the tournament organizers decided to add a third-place game for the varsity tournament before the junior varsity championship game.
Both teams would have to eagerly wait another 45 minutes or so before finally starting play, however, when their junior varsity teams played through two scoreless overtimes and decided the junior varsity championship match on penalty strokes.
“It was so exciting and nervy to watch [the junior varsity team],” Orange defender Carrie Jacobs said. “In the back of my mind, I knew that I wouldn’t want to be playing late definitely, since the JV game extended so late as well.”
It was ironic then that the Jefferson District championship match developed similarly to the junior varsity game, finishing scoreless in regulation before Orange’s senior forward Rachael Gardener scored the game-winning goal on an incisive breakaway with two minutes to spare in overtime and gave Orange a 1-0 championship victory over Western.
In regulation, both teams played fast games traded spells of dominance — particularly drawing strings of consecutive corners — but were unable to finish opportunities. Western, led by sophomore midfielder Olivia Hajek, slightly edged the Hornets in possession — 53 percent to 47 percent—but was unable to break a composed Orange backline when it mattered the most.
“We came to play today,” Grabeel said. “Both [Western] and our team are great, evenly-matched teams. We came into this game as an underdog though, a role we embrace. And we really came to play and wanted this game tonight.”
One player that certainly came to play was Orange junior midfielder Ellie Jeanes. With 3:19 to play in regulation and both teams pushing for a game-winning goal in regulation, Jeanes suffered a toe injury off a misplayed stick check. As Jeanes hobbled across the width of the field to the sideline, Grabeel thought she noticed tears and shouted, “there’s no crying in hockey!”
With a noticeable grimace, Jeanes responded: “I’m not crying, I’m smiling,” bringing out large smiles from the entire Orange bench and coaching staff.
Moments later in overtime — after Western drew a string of penalty corners — Orange achieved its shining moment. Junior Naomi Hynes collected the ball off a misplayed Western pass and played a perfect pass to Gardner, who bolted down the field and snuck the ball past Western keeper Maya Langman for the championship-clinching goal.
“I can’t take any of the credit, really. It was a team effort,” said Gardener, who was mobbed immediately afterwards. “This game was really close and we just were a bit better. All I did was finish the shot, but the defense was so great. This win feels amazing. It’s really amazing.”
Grabeel added that Thursday’s emotionally charged championship win over Western was fitting of its roller-coaster season and a great way to end its tenure in the Jefferson District.
“It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been going after this championship ever since we’ve joined the Jefferson District,” Hornets coach Trish Grabeel said. “It’s always been us and Western… these games have always been classic matchups, so this feels really good. It’s special. This has been a special season, and we can do so much more if we played like we did tonight.”
Western coach Mia Fields, on the other hand, lamented her team’s inability to finish its chances, noting that her team had many chances to take control of the game.
“I want to give credit to Orange. They played a great game. This match was against two really good teams and it was anybody’s game. Both teams had tons of opportunities to score during regulation, but we had many we really had to finish,” Fields said. “We didn’t finish, so we kind of hurt ourselves there. “
Both coaches agreed that their teams could square off for the fourth time this season for the Region II tournament championship. Regular-season champion Western — who remains the top seed — will host Louisa County Tuesday at 6 p.m., while second-seeded Orange will host Liberty-Bealeton at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
