It was a pure shootout.
Western Albemarle and Monticello traded goals for 50 full minutes before Western managed to pull away for an 11-8 victory over the Mustangs Wednesday night.
“I love the fact that we can come out and have a great night of competition with [Monticello],” Western coach Tara Hohenshelt said. “They’re a very competitive, tough and skilled team and this was a great night of lacrosse.”
Scoring started just a minute and a half after the opening whistle. Summer Larese opened up Monticello’s scoring with a quick release into the bottom of the net, giving the Mustangs a short-lived lead.
Joie Funk scored on the other end of the field to equalize for Western just minutes after Larese.
The Warriors and Mustangs swapped goals for most of the first half. Larese answered after Funk’s goal, then Samantha Magargee for Western, then Kendall Walin for Monticello. After that scoring flurry, Western’s Hannah Schuler stepped up on attack to separate the Jefferson District rivals.
“The thing I’m happiest about the two Hannahs and the other attackers is that they are learning to how to transition the concepts from practice to the game,” Hohenshelt said.
Schuler netted two more goals within one minute to suddenly shift the momentum in Western’s favor, 4-3. Larese completed her hat trick with 7:11 remaining in the first half to even it up at four. But before the whistle, Hannah Plantz gave the Warriors a one-goal edge at halftime, 5-4.
Then, 43 second into the second half Paige McGlothlin knotted it up at five. However, another 22 seconds later and McGlothlin had netted another to give Monticello the 6-5 lead. Kate Snyder of Western responded with her own brace of goals to send the lead back Western’s way.
Midway through the second half Plantz scored again to give Western a two-goal lead. Monticello fought back with a goal by Kiara Kauffman making it 8-7.
Despite Monticello goalie Carly Harris’ excellent effort Schuler netter two more to extend the Warrior lead to three, the largest lead of the match.
Carly [Harris] did a great job in goal for [Monticello]. She had a lot of saves and she saved the ones she should be saving then she saved some more,” Hohenshelt said.
Eventually Western’s offense closed out the match with extended possession in their attacking third of the field. At the final whistle, Western secured a crucial 11-8 victory on the road.
Harris ended the match with 17 saves and Larese led the Mustangs with four goals. Western’s Schuler notched four goals while Plantz and Snyder each had two of their own.
Western travels to Roanoke to face off with Patrick Henry on April 12. Meanwhile Monticello takes on Powhatan on the same night.
