Sometimes, the best way to handle the unknown in sports is to get on the offensive.
“We had no expectations for Staunton River, we hadn’t heard anything about them,” said Western Albemarle sophomore Anna Sumpter. “The first thing coach (Jacob Desch) said is ‘take it to them and figure them out as you go.”
The Warriors did just that Monday night against Staunton River and rolled 3-0 to advance in the Region 3A West quarterfinals, putting Western just one win away from the state tournament as they’ll face Blacksburg with a state berth on the line Wednesday.
Sumpter drew first blood against Staunton River, scoring with 13 minutes left in the first half as the sophomore continues her return from a knee injury that kept her out of action for all of basketball season and the entire regular season in soccer.
“I’ve been cleared for three months — sitting on the sideline I got a completely different perspective,” Sumpter said. “To be back is awesome…it feels good.”
She’s given Western a jolt up front, and that continued later in the game when she attacked and sent a ball careening off of and then past Staunton River’s Kendra Huntley who had a whale of a game for the Golden Eagles, coming up with nine saves while facing a barrage of 21 shots from the Warriors. Nichole Heon finished off the goal Sumpter created. Sumpter’s two creations sandwiched a goal by Sarah Watkins off a rebound on a tremendous move and then shot by Langlee King with 20 minutes left to play.
Western had to withstand some defensive pressure of their own, but keeper Erin Farina and the defense were up to the task as she saved all six of Staunton River’s six shots on the night.
“I’m feeling pretty confident, especially with a great defense in front of me,” Farina said. “All of my team has been really supportive.”
The win came on the heels of a pair of Conference 29 wins that secured the first round home clash for the Warriors. In the semifinals and final, Western beat Waynesboro and then Spotswood 1-0, with senior defender Sarah Grupp scoring both game-winning goals for the Warriors. With the win over Staunton River, the Warriors have ripped off nine wins in a row.
That’s thanks in large part to the way the Warriors have steadily improved throughout 2014.
“We’ve had a lot of team talks about what we need to work on and communication is always one of them,” Farina said. “We’ve been stressing that a lot this year, especially in the back. I’m trying to get as much information out as I can.”
Western will take on Blacksburg at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hidden Valley High in Roanoke in the Region 3A West semifinals. The winner advances to the region final and earns a berth in the state final four.
