VIRGINIA BEACH – Talia Tapper always seems to find herself in the right place at the right time.
Kellam’s star midfielder did it again Tuesday against Tallwood on both sides of the field, proving it’s more a talented habit than luck.
In the 72nd minute, after a Knights corner kick wasn’t cleared by Tallwood, Kellam sophomore midfielder Margot Brown collected the ball from 30 yards out and placed it inside the box. Tapper, standing in the perfect spot, angled a header past Lions goalkeeper Kelsie Faber for the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win.
“Clutchness” was the first word Knights coach Mario Hurdle used to describe Tapper’s knack for the big play. Her score Tuesday marked the second time in the past six games she broke a late scoreless tie against a Coastal foe with the game-winner.
“When you need something, you know you have her,” Hurdle said. “I wish I had a couple of her. We talked before the game, how thunder is pretty powerful but lightning does the work. Today lightning came through with Talia. She found a way and that’s why she’s special.”
“It was crazy,” Tapper said of her score. “I knew we needed to finish, so I stayed up there. Margot played it in and I was just there.”
Tapper’s late goal felt inevitable for the Knights, who dictated the pace and generated offensive pressure all night.
The Knights (12-1-2, 4-0-1 Coastal) had seven corners and seven shots to the Lions’ three and five, respectively. Kellam’s back line rarely allowed Tallwood’s forwards to exploit space or generate chances inside 20 yards.
“We had chances,” Hurdle said. “We didn’t put away many of them.”
Tallwood threatened late but came up empty on two corner opportunities in the final seven minutes. The Lions had to play without their best defender, Frances Hermoso, who is out the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
Senior star forward Rosie O’Neal started the first half on the back line to help patch Hormoso’s absence. She later moved to the front line to spark some offense.
Kellam’s win sets the Knights up for a heavyweight battle against Cox (11-4, 5-0 Coastal) for the Coastal Conference regular season crown and an automatic berth in the 6A South Region tournament.
Kellam beat Cox 1-0 in an early season game that didn’t count in the conference standings. It was the Knights’ first win of the season and the Falcons’ last loss. Since then, Cox has ripped off 11 straight wins, while Kellam has gone 11-0-1.
“It’s going to be a battle,” Hurdle said. “They’re a different team (since the first meeting), and I think we’re a different team.”
Said Tapper: “I think we’ve gotten better, but I know they have too. We have to play hard the whole time and have to match up against the Davidson (Alex and Ryanne) sisters.
