Both coaches were pretty blunt about it. Abby Wheeler was playing in a league of her own in the Jefferson District title game. From far out, close range or anything in between the Vanderbilt bound senior could not be stopped. And with a six goal performance, Western Albemarle completed its sweep of the JD with a 14-5 win over Monticello.
“Absolutely the best I’ve ever seen her play,” said Warriors coach Nancy Haws of Wheeler. “She played with more discipline and more control and saved bad stats for other players. She played the most unselfish and disciplined game I’ve ever seen her play.”
Mustangs coach Karen Hackett didn’t mince words — there was simply no answer for Wheeler’s agility and play making skills.
“She takes us everytime,” Hackett said. “She’s a powerhouse. We’ve got girls that are just as fast as she is, but not as quick. She’ll just get off a shot out of nowhere.”
Wheeler scored the game’s first two goals, and had three of Western’s eight first half goals. In the second half, after Britanny Haun and Lisa Marshall cut Western’s lead to five goals, Wheeler sparked a scoring tear that lasted 10 minutes, netting three more goals to put the Warriors up by nine. It was all they would need.
“Monticello was really pressuring us,” Wheeler said. “Sometimes that made us nervous on attack, but other times it allowed us to get by them if they stepped up too much. They came out really hard early and we felt like we had to answer back.”
On the other end of the field, Western’s defense buckled down early and kept Monticello’s top threats — Marshall, Brianna Slate, Anna Bagley and Haun, off the board for the first 18 minutes.
“(Our goalie, Christine Fortner) came into the game feeling like she could win it single handedly,” Haws said. “When you get that kind of intensity from someone on defense, that really sets the tone.
Fortner also got plenty of help from her defense, in particular, Anna Krueger, who kept the Mustangs to the left, right or back of the net, rarely giving them a square look.
“We just really communicated well and kept our head on a swivel,” Krueger said. “We talked really well and we were able to shut them down.”
The defense was at its best in the beginning as Monticello worked through its set offense early, but could not close.
“The long possession at the beginning, we wanted to set the tempo,” Hackett said. “And we had the opportunity to score a couple of times there but weren’t able to execute.”
With Western up 6-0, Katelin Cosner finally broke the dry spell for Monticello. Monticello was also able to seize the momentum for the first five minutes of the second half as goalkeeper Sarah Ragosta all but stood on her head to keep the Warriors from scoring.
“I think that was the best game ever for her,” Hackett said. “Our first string goalie’s had concussion problems and Sarah has had to step up, particularly tonight, and she did.”
Ragosta stopped the first five shots she faced coming out of the break, and with the Mustangs getting in transition, Haun and Marshall scored the half’s first two goals before Wheeler once again took control. Haun and Jessie Valentic scored the game’s final two goals, helping end the contest on a brighter note for Monticello.
Of course, having earned a Region II birth for the first time in the program’s history on Tuesday, the Mustangs are hoping to avoid a hangover as they will travel to George Mason on Monday at 7 p.m.
“This is our first time ever in regionals and the team is ready to play someone new,” Hackett said. “The girls are really excited and ready get out of the district and see different teams play.”
For the Warriors, Wheeler finished with six goals and an assist. Ellen Shaffrey had four goals of her own. Jeanette Fellows scored twice while Stewart Summers, and Peyton Brandy tallying up the other two goals.
Western who hosts Loudoun County on Monday at 7 p.m., is looking to keep up their level of play. The Warriors have not lost since April 10.
“The girls feel like this is their year,” Haws said. “This is their team and so for us (as coaches) its about facilitating. It’s about cleaning up the edges and letting the players run with it.”
