By Price Thomas / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Most of the talk involving Western Albemarle soccer surrounds centers around star sophomore captain Hayes Fountain and rightfully so, but it was classmate Grant Tolber who shone brightest on Monday night, taking the attack to Charlottesville before striking in the 46th minute to secure a hard fought 1-1 draw with the cross-county rival Black Knights.
It was the Warriors who came out on the front foot, testing Black Knights goalkeeper Gabriel Hunter-Chang early and often. Freshman Forrest White nearly put the Warriors ahead a mere 30 seconds into the match when he unleashed a left-footed volley which seemed bound for the upper left corner, only to be thwarted by a sprawling Hunter-Chang.
Western Albemarle kept the pressure on in the ninth minute as Tolber found himself on a breakaway. His low, right-footed shot beat Hunter-Chang and was headed for the side netting however was cleared off the goal line by Black Knight defender Bakar Osman, proving to be an early predictor of how the night went for the Warrior offense.
Their inability to capitalize on scoring chances came back to haunt the Warriors, as Black Knights freshman Henry Lewis found the back of the net with one minute left if the first half. Senior playmaker Reuben Chapman found sophomore forward Abass Osman streaking down the right sideline, and Osman used his speed to get off a low cross, causing confusion in front of Western goalie Kai Shin. In the ensuing scrum, Lewis was able to get the decisive touch, giving the Black Knights a much-needed lift going into the half.
“That first goal was a huge weight off our back,” said Charlottesville coach Stephan Cost. “I told these guys, that’s the only way you’re going to beat [Shin], either picking up a rebound or scrapping in front of the net.”
CHS began the second half with a new found confidence; however they could not find an answer for Tolber and his persistence paid off in the 46th minute. After a near miss minutes earlier, the Warriors forward found the back of the net, wriggling free from three Black Knight defenders and firing a left footed shot past a diving Hunter-Chang from 10 yards out.
“Grant has bailed us out in two separate games when we’ve been dog fighting,” said Western coach Paul Rittenhouse.
He nearly thrust his side into the lead 30 seconds later, however his right footed found only the metal of the crossbar. As time expired, a resilient CHS outfit was pleased with the outcome.
“Getting past this one is a good result for us,” Cost said.
On the other end though, the Warriors may have witnessed the continued emergence of another star in Tolber, but they couldn’t help but feel they let another chance at a win slip away. The Warriors, who have a lot of young talent on the roster, have eked out ties against Louisa County and Orange County in other Jefferson District action already this year.
Charlottesville will try and build on the tie in a Thursday home match with Louisa County while Western will try and find a way to finish off more opportunities against another cross-county rival, Monticello, Thursday.
