It’s a rivalry that’s clearly based in mutual respect.
That’s why, as soon as Charlottesville and Western Albemarle’s latest clash was over and the teams had shaken hands, Western Albemarle’s Tess Lohr found Kendall Ballard and said simply: “Congratulations. You guys earned it.”
Charlottesville had earned it, winning 2-1 in overtime against the Warriors in the Jefferson District tournament final, holding on in overtime after an early Kendall Ballard goal to win. The victory ended a string of difficult, close losses to the Warriors over the past two years.
“These are the kind of games that I live for,” said Charlottesville coach Lindsay Larson. “These tight, competitive games and the back and forth play. It’s 50-50 now. Last year, maybe nine times out of 10 they’d beat us and were just hoping for that one game. (Now), it can go either way. I’m so excited.”
Western Albemarle drew first blood in the contest when Alex Brown broke through off an assist from Lohr. But Ballard put in the equalizer in the first half. While evening the score was crucial Ballard was hoping the goal would turn into something more.
“I kind of wish our energy had kept on going and we could’ve gotten another but we ended up winning,” Ballard said.
Charlottesville couldn’t shake loose though, and neither could Western Albemarle, as the two teams traded run after run through each other’s zone. Both teams were getting good chances too, with back-and-forth hockey throughout that forced both goalies to make play after play as the offenses kept the attack going throughout.
Western’s Maya Langman made one particularly stunning stop, a diving save in the second half with about 12 minutes to play. Charlottesville corralled the rebound though, and with Langman on the ground, Caroline Deale came from the far side of the defense to make a save.
Joanna Kammauff made some tough stops too, including a key second half kick save. Her saves bailed the Black Knights out of several tough spots.
“She stepped it up,” Larson said. “She doesn’t get a lot of touches on the ball because at the beginning of the season we mostly dominated games. For her to come on and step it up in a game like this as a sophomore, I’m just so proud of her.”
For her part, Kammauff was quick to credit her teammates in front of her.
“Emily Lichtenberger and Hollis (Camp) have saved my butt so many times,” Kammauff said.
The stalemate created by the solid defensive play forced overtime with the score deadlocked at 1-1. Early in the overtime period, Ballard broke through for the second time in the game and put CHS up 2-1.
“To be able to get a shot and it didn’t have to be on a corner, it was so refreshing,” Ballard said. “The only thing was, it was so early.”
There was plenty of time for Western to answer since field hockey doesn’t have sudden death. Charlottesville refused to pack it in tight on defense, instead employing some stall tactics in the midfield with Ballard possessing the ball for several large chunks of time. The Warriors couldn’t scratch a goal out, and fell to the Black Knights.
“I think they came out so emotionally driven,” said Western coach Mia Fields. “They wanted it — it was not only a battle on the field, it was a battle of heart. Charlottesville played better and they were the better team tonight.”
The win is a major step in an incredible revamp the Black Knights have undergone under Larson, now in her second year as head coach.
