In late May, Central Virginia soccer is impossible to predict as multiple teams make final adjustments and tune up for the playoffs. The Charlottesville boys, who beat Monticello 5-1 earlier this year, found themselves locked with the stout Mustangs fighting to maintain their playoff spot and seeding in Region 3C.
“Monticello played awesome, especially defensively.” Charlottesville head coach Martin Braun said. “They are very organized. It’s great because we’ll have games like this in the playoffs.”
It took a beautiful cross from junior forward Nasir Lindsay that perfectly found junior Rocco Fleming on a header with 3:16 left in double overtime to lift the Black Knights and all but claim the number one seed in Region 3C. Monticello expertly withstood a furious array of Black Knight shots in the second half, spear-headed by an array of reserves led by sophomore Elias Zell. However, Monticello nearly scored the go-ahead goal at the end of the first overtime in an expertly played counter-attack. The Mustangs’ shot just missed the left goalpost, sending a huge sigh of relief through the Charlottesville faithful at Theodose.
The first half saw a lot of feel-out plays, with few shots on goal and Charlottesville controlling most of the possession but unable to produce great shot opportunities. Monticello played very patiently and gave the potent Charlottesville offense fits all night. It took an injection of bench energy from Lindsay, Zell, and Moses Kashindi to get the offense into its more comfortable, and common, pace. Their presence and speed in the second half helped to spur on the other Black Knight attackers to create space and get quality shots.
Still, Charlottesville did not find the game winner until Lindsay took a deflection off a corner on the left side, beat his man and sent his cross right toward the center of the goal. Fleming, who had great opportunities all night, finally got the angle he wanted and sent the ball into the back of the net.
“It was a beautiful ball.” Fleming said of his teammate’s cross. “The team set us up perfectly.”
“Nas has been playing great recently.” Braun said of Lindsay. “Happy to get him involved a lot more than we had at the beginning of the season.”
Lindsay’s electric playmaking proved monumental as Monticello mostly kept the Black Knights’ typical facilitators like Lucas Simpson in check on Senior Night. Monticello did all they could to hold the Black Knight’s leading scorer to as few opportunities as they could.
The physical, low scoring affair prepares both teams for regional play starting next week, where there is a common theme of stifling defense and few opportunities to capitalize on mistakes with the likes of Liberty Christian, Spotswood, Turner Ashby, and other storied programs throughout Central Virginia and the valley.
Charlottesville (11-2-2) will get one final opportunity to prepare for the playoffs when they host Orange County on Monday night. Monticello (4-10-1) travels to Louisa County before awaiting their playoff fate, where they will travel in the first round.
