Western Albemarle, got enough in the first half to make sure that whatever Monticello improved on in the second half didn’t matter. The Warriors picked up a pair of goals in the first period — one early on, the other very late — and with a defensive stalemate in the second half, that was more than enough as the Warriors picked up a 2-0 win over Monticello in the Jefferson District semifinals to secure a Region II bid.
“We always preach to our players that we just need to go out there and play our game,” said Western coach Lesley Gourdet. “It was beautiful. We took some chances, finished with a couple of goals that made the difference in the game, and that was about it.”
Kelsey Swanson put Western on the board fifteen minutes into the first half after Rachel Isaacs set up a ball at the top of the box and the senior lofted it up and over Mustangs goalie Aileen Beringer.
“It was there and just perfect so I hit it one time,” Swanson said. “I didn’t really think about it.”
Both teams duked it out in the middle of the field for the bulk of the rest of the half, but In the waining moments just before halftime, Sarah Barlow put Western up 2-0 on a high traffic play in front of the net.
“That sort of sealed it,” Swanson said. “We felt safe after that, being up 2-0.”
Conversely, it was heartbreaking for Monticello as its coach, Jessie Wright felt as though the goal changed things completely.
“I really think the game would have been different if it was just 1-0 at the half,” Wright said. “It’s really hard to come back from 2-0 when there’s that much intensity on the field.”
Jessie Wingo threatened for the Mustangs late in the first half. Wingo’s corner kick ricocheted around in front the Western net and hit the right post, but Western’s Lexy Eckerle quickly collected the shot to end the scoring chance.
“Jessie Wingo played a heck of a game,” Wright said. “I though that (she had that) goal. I was bummed out that wasn’t a goal.”
Scoring chances were few and far between after that as the Warriors played conservatively to make sure nothing caught them off guard. Nothing did and victory quickly followed.
The loss ends Monticello’s season.
“I’ve certainly had a lot fun,” Wright said. “This is the best team I’ve ever coached and they worked the best as a team together on the field.”
The Warriors, on the other hand, will play Charlottesville on Thursday for the Jefferson District title before jumping into Region II play next week.
