With contrasting strengths in the midfield, the majority of the first half of Thursday’s Bay Rivers District girls soccer quarterfinal between No. 4 Warhill and No. 5 Grafton played out as anticipated- back-and-forth, with few quality scoring opportunities and most of the action taking place between the 18s.
So at halftime, Warhill coach Todd Williams instructed his team to take more outside shots with pre-storm wind gusts blowing heavily at their backs.
Senior forward Vicky Underwood put her coach’s words to good use, and delivered in beautiful fashion.
With a little less than 14 minutes to play in regulation and the game still knotted in a scoreless draw, Underwood collected possession off a throw-in on the left side of her team’s own half of the field and began working her way down the center of the pitch. When she got just inside 30 yards out from goal, nearing the right hash mark, she blasted a booming right-footed shot that sneaked under the crossbar, sailing just above the fingertips of Grafton keeper Cassie Heinselman and into the back of the net.
“I was ecstatic,” Underwood of her impressive strike, which proved to be the game-winner as Warhill held on for a 1-0 victory. “Coach had been telling me to try a few shots from outside because the wind was on our side. I figured [the wind] would help me get a better rip on the ball and luckily it went in.”
Williams’ group got the brunt of what was a physical contest as two of his starters were forced to sit with injuries, but he applauded officials for “letting the girls play.”
After a first half in which neither side produced a threatening scoring chance – Williams estimated a single shot being put on goal by either team – the Lions dictated most of the tempo and possessed the ball on their side of the field for most of the second half.
The Clippers’ best scoring chances down the stretch came on a few breakaways, a credit to Warhill midfielders Lindsey Williams and Shaye Doherty, who did a nice job marking Grafton’s standout midfielders and best ball possessors Kaylee Pearce and Jaime Brown.
Warhill keeper Kristina Brandveen also came up with a few big stops in goal. Her best, perhaps, came in the final five minutes of regulation when she hauled in Pearce’s one-timer off a well-placed cross from Aileen Ahlers.
Although the Lions held possession for a better portion of the game’s final 30 minutes, the Clippers were efficient in limiting Warhill’s chances inside the box thanks largely to the defensive efforts of Rachel Curtis, Sophia Beaudoin and Taylor Bradshaw.
However, as Williams noted, Underwood is the type of player who doesn’t have to be close to be effective.
“She has the ability score from outside, and if you give her space, she’ll make you pay,” Williams said of Underwood, who stands at 4-foot-11 on a good day. “She’s small in stature but has a strong foot. She has the best strike on our team, which is why I kept telling her to take shots from outside with mother nature on our side during the second half.”
With the victory, the Lions guaranteed themselves one of the Bay Rivers’ fourth Region I tournament berths since the top four district seeds all advanced into next Tuesday’s semifinals.
“I’m just so proud and happy for the girls,” Williams said. “We lost a lot of talent from last year, and I’m tickled to death with the way the girls have stepped up and performed this season.”
Below is a quick look at Thursday’s three other district-tournament quarterfinals, followed by next Tuesday’s semifinal pairings.
No. 1 Jamestown 3 No. 8 Smithfield 0
Marissa Segala, Payton Flores and Tori Bennett scored a goal apiece on assists from Maggie Fox, Bailey Cristian and Paige Majdic as top-seeded Jamestown shut out No. 8 Smithfield 3-0 Tuesday at Wanner Stadium.
The Eagles led just 1-0 at the half – thanks largely to the play of Smithfield goalie Katelyn Tucker, who finished with 19 saves – but the Packers rarely threatened with their attack as Jamestown keeper Hannah Sams needed only one save to preserve the shutout.
Jamestown will face No. 4 Warhill in the first of two semifinals at Bailey Field next Tuesday.
No. 2 York 9 No. 7 New Kent 1
Kisa Reck scored three goals, Jennifer Pandolf netted five and Ashley Pandolf tacked on one more as the Falcons erupted for six second-half goals and breezed past visiting New Kent at Bailey Field.
No. 2 York will advance to play No. 3 Tabb in next Tuesday’s semifinals, which will be held at Bailey, at 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 Tabb 2 No. 6 Poquoson 0
Macy Peebles’ successful penalty kick and Leah Tyson’s goal on an assist from Katie Herold broke a 0-0 score at halftime as host Tabb pulled away in the second half to beat Poquoson, 2-0, at Tabb High Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Kelsey Hecker finished with seven saves to earn the shutout for the third-seeded Tigers, who will take on No. 2 York in next Tuesday’s semifinals.
Bay Rivers District Girls Soccer Tournament
Semifinals- Tuesday, May 21 at Bailey Field (York High)
No. 1 Jamestown vs. No. 4 Warhill, 5:30 p.m.
No. 2 York vs. No. 3 Tabb, 7:30 p.m.
Championship- Thursday, May 23 at Bailey Field
Semifinal winners
