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Revenge Attained: Charlottesville boys soccer beats Park View squad to advance to region semis

Photo by Ashley Thornton

Charlottesville’s boys soccer team had a score to settle going into Monday’s Region 4A West quarterfinal clash with Park View-Sterling. The Patriots ended the Black Knights’ season a year ago, and had the ability to do so again if they pulled off the road upset.

 

Less than a week after putting up five goals in the conference final against Liberty Christian, Charlottesville’s attack continued to hum though, and the Black Knights stormed their way to a 4-2 victory over Park View, avenging last year’s loss.

 

Behind a hat trick and an assist from Evan Blow, the Black Knights showed no signs of rust coming off of a first-round bye and gradually pulled away from the overmatched Patriots. 

 

The Black Knights got off to a quick start as Blow took a feed from Abibi Osman in the 10th minute and put it into the top right corner of the net to give his team the early advantage.

 

Park View, which earlier had seen an almost certain scoring opportunity bounce off the post, struck back in the 20th when Obundio Funez used some deft touch to fake out CHS goalkeeper Ryan Herbert and even the score.

 

“We knew how they played, we knew they played direct, we knew they played long balls,” CHS coach Stephan Cost said. “We knew they had two guys up front who could score, and the best way to keep them out is to stop the long balls.”

 

It was Blow, who notched a goal in Wednesday’s game, who soon got his second of the game for a 2-1 lead for Charlottesville in the 27th minute. The Knights took that lead into the break.

 

Charlottesville dominated the chances in the early stages of the second half, with Blow at the head of the attack. He very nearly completed his hat trick in the 52nd minute, but his shot hit off the crossbar. Fittingly, he had another chance in the 55th and this time his shot was right on target to make it 3-1.

 

“It was a great chance, but I thought I’d get another one,” Blow said. “I was just glad to have a good game. Our offense was top notch today.”

 

Blow wasn’t done. He then led a two-on-one breakaway and added an assist to his stat sheet, finding Alex Pfister for a 4-1 lead. Funez brought Park View back within two by notching his second of the game off a free kick with just under 15 minutes remaining, but the CHS defense clamped down after that.

 

“We were pressuring and pressuring hard,” Cost said. “We were trying to take their midfielders off their game.”

 

For the game, the Knights outshot Park View 12-6 and took three corners to none for the Patriots. They will return to action Wednesday in the regional semifinals.

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