For Charlottesville it must have been frustrating as it looked as though the Black Knights were just starting to get going on offense. For Fluvanna County, it’s a moot point because a win is a win is a win. The Flucos earned a least a share of what would be their third straight Jefferson District regular season title on Monday as their game on the road at Charlottesville was called because of severe weather with 26 minutes remaining in the second half and Fluvanna up 2-1.
In a back and forth contest, albeit brief, both teams were aggressive in their offensive pursuits. Fluvanna was able to draw first blood fourteen minutes into the first half. Just moments after Ty Albaugh nearly broke the scoreless tie, fellow senior Taylor Rafaly was able to punch one through to make 1-0.
Charlottesville fought back though and equalized things eight minutes before halfttime. On a wild play in front of the Flucos net, Leandro Grigera-Monteag was able to tuck in a rebound that kicked out and landed in a perfect spot for him to shoot at a wide open goal.
From that point forward, both teams dug in until the break. Coming out of the break though, Fluvanna took the field with renewed purpose. The Flucos watched a shot in the opening minutes of the second half just sail high of the net, Rafaly have a hard shot from the right side of the field on a breakaway flie into the arms of Charlottesville goalkeeper Gabriel Hunter-Chang.
But just like in the first half for Fluvanna, the narrow miss was followed by celebration shortly there after. The Flucos took advantage of a major scramble this time in front of the Black Knights net where not one, but two rebounds kicked out and Dale Ludwig was in the right place at the right time to pitch in a header to take the 2-1 lead in the 45th minute.
Charlottesville again recouped and began applying pressure of its own on Fluvanna’s defense, but could not break through before the game was initially delayed by a lightning strike. That would do it for rest of the contest as the game had to be called with no end to the severe weather in sight.
Both Fluvanna and Charlottesville end their regular seasons and the two teams will each play in a Jefferson District quarterfinal game on Friday at a time TBD.
The win on Monday followed by an Orange County win or tie over Western Albemarle gives Fluvanna sole possesion of the JD regular season title and coveted Region II tournament bid.
