Maybe it’s something you can teach. But when Western Albemarle boys soccer’s Sam Vigilante does it, it looks instinctual.
He takes off right from the opening kick and for two games in a row now, the state berth clinching Region 3C semifinal win and Thursday in the region final, he’s scored in the first 30 seconds, giving the Warriors a lead from the jump in both critical contests.
Thanks in part to that early run, Western Albemarle left Liberty Bedford High with a Region 3C championship in a 6-2 victory over Spotswood.
“Sam has this innate ability to make dangerous runs out of the midfield and they’re really hard to defend especially at the beginning of the game,” said Western coach Milo Oakland.
Getting a goal on the board that quickly gave the Warriors a huge lift for the second game in a row, and it opened up the field for striker Carter Spilman who poured in four goals after Vigilante’s opening blast. Spilman scored eight goals in the entire Region 3C tournament an explosive effort for the converted defensive midfielder who stepped up into the striker spot this year to give Western an offensive jolt.
“It’s not how I think he thought he’d finish up his career here at Western, but it was a role he had to take on for the team,” Oakland said. “He’s a defensive midfielder playing striker so he plays it a little unconventionally so I think that helps.”
Joey Paulson chipped in the Warriors’ other goal and keeper Jack Frey had one critical save in the first half before stepping out early in the second half after holding Spotswood scoreless during his time in net.
Western played better than they did against Rustburg in the semifinal in part because they made some significant adjustments to their pregame routine. Against the Red Devils, Western ate and then napped on the ride down and looked sluggish throughout with Vigilante’s early goal giving them enough a spark to escape with the win.
“That was completely my fault, but we came out a lot better this time,” Oakland said.
Spilman’s electric performance helped punctuate the fact that according to Oakland, the squad’s four seniors made it clear they wanted to play another game in Crozet in the Class 3 state quarterfinals.
Now they’ll get that chance Tuesday against the Region 3D runner-up, either Lord Botetourt or Northside.
