Class 3 State Girls Soccer Championship: Western Albemarle at Independence, 5 p.m.
The Basics: For the fourth-straight season that has been played, Western Albemarle girls soccer is in the mix for a state title. The Warriors have a lot of young players in key spots, but at this point they’re battle tested, especially after a freshman holding midfielder, Kayla Howell, provided the equalizer in the four-overtime win over Hidden Valley in the state semifinals. Not to mention the fact that Nicole Bilchick, who notched the game-winner on a free kick is a central defender. The Warriors are stepping up all over the place during this run to find goals in different places with teams lasered in on trying to control the elite speed of freshman forward Reese Mattern and her classmate Phebe Ryan’s knack for scoring. Western’s defense has brought the heat too, with Bilchick and Cat Domecq among the players who’ve stepped up while Western allowed just a single goal during the playoffs, the one that bounded in on a free kick from way out by Hidden Valley. In the end though, with strong midfield play on the Independence side, this one will likely come down to who can get the job done there, though and wether the Warriors can break through against Independence keeper and Region 3B player of the year Reiley Fitzpatrick. Independence is headed for Class 5 next year and they’re not the typical Class 3 squad. But they’ve also never been in this spot before and Western Albemarle, as a program, has been here the last three years. Can the Warriors draw on that collective experience and seasoning and knock off the Tigers for a fourth-straight title?
Key Matchup: Western’s stout defense takes on Independence’s productive attack. Independence has been putting up some serious goals, including a 4-0 win over Lafayette Monday night in the state semifinals. They run the offense through Reagan Wise, Kaitlyn Nimmer and Cameron Shackford and finding a way to disrupt that flow will be a critical part of the midfield and defense’s job. On the backend, goalies Elana Romesburg and Karina Long haven’t been tested that often this season but they’ll almost surely get pushed here. Western generally has done a good job of keeping the ball off frame, forcing it wherever they need to avoid a real chance. Look for that group to continue playing heady soccer.
Who to Watch: Western Albemarle’s Ellie Cox. Ellie Cox struck first against Fort Defiance to get Western on the board in the region title game and the Christopher Newport-bound senior has been in these spots as much as anyone over the last four years, as a crucial member of the Warriors’ 2018 and 2019 state title teams. Her experience and measured, hard-nosed play in the midfield will be critical for the Warriors. If Cox plays her game and does exactly what the Warriors have come to expect from her over the years, they’ll be in excellent position to knock off Independence.
The Line: Western Albemarle by 1. The Warriors have the goods to bring home a fourth-straight title.
