For three and a half years, senior Sophie Bray has been a fixture on defense for Charlottesville’s field hockey squad. That changed this season when the Black Knights desperately needed some scoring punch.
She provided all the punch CHS needed Monday night in a 1-0 victory over Monticello High. Bray scored with around 14 minutes left in the first half and the Black Knights held on from there.
“It was really great to see Sophie get it,” said Charlottesville coach Lindsay Larson. “We shifted her up top because we really needed help offensively and she can play that left forward really well. It was just about trying to get that confidence and tonight she got it.”
Bray’s goal was the difference-maker in an otherwise dead even game as both squads played some of their best field hockey of the year. The Mustangs continued to struggle to find goals despite playing well in the midfield with Emily Morris and Natalie Gibson stepping up for Monticello.
“This was probably our second best game of the season,” said Monticello coach Katie Martin. “We have been working really really hard to overcome this kind of brick wall that we seem to keep hitting. Our biggest problem right now is being able to finish. We work so hard to get all the way down the field and it’s like all of our energy has been spent in the middle of the field and we don’t have that one last little push to get it in. But we’re getting closer.”
The Black Knights deserve some of the credit for the Mustangs’ scoreless night as Charlottesville showed significant improvement from the squads’ first meeting, a Monticello win. The Black Knights’ keeper Becca Stuphin finished with six saves.
“I’ve told them this year I don’t care what the score is as long as each game we’re getting better and better because of what we’re having to overcome,” Larson said. “Even tonight we didn’t have Caroline Clark and she’s a captain and a big-time leader for us.”
The Black Knights certainly overcame those challenges Monday and they were able to snag a monster win over Monticello to kick off a three match week where they take on Louisa Tuesday and Western Thursday.
The Mustangs, who’s keeper Emily Witzke had three saves, take on Orange Tuesday night and Albemarle Thursday.
