| YOUR STARTING POINT FOR HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER IN VIRGINIA'S GROUP AAA EASTERN REGION |
| 2010 VHSL Group AAA STATE SEMIFINALS - LIVE UPDATES Live updates from Westfield Follow a chronology of Friday's Group AAA Semifinal round! Doug Ripley - June 11, 2010 GIRLS: Loudoun Valley (18-1-3) vs. Cosby (18-2-1) 11:00am - Things are heating up here at Westfield High School as our first state semifinal of the day begins. The pitch is fast and crowned here at this immaculate athletic facility with temperature steadily moving up the 80's. 11:15am (11th minute) - After both sides felt out each other's strengths and weaknesses, Cosby appears to have taken some momentum. The Titans had a pair of left side runs diverted wide for corners, and put forth a pair of solid services from Joy Grove that was headed high by Gina D'Orazio in the 7th and the LV defense were able to divert wide in the 8th. 11:21am (18th minute) - Loudoun Valley defense continues to keep it scoreless but not without some fireworks from the Cosby attack. Grove blasted a ball from 28' toward the upper-half of the frame but LV goalkeeper DiDi Haracic impressively bumped it up and over the bar for a corner. Wann's header off a Courtney Hook corner sailed high for a goal kick. 11:23am (20th minute) - That's not to say Loudoun Valley hasn't had its chances in the match thus far. The Vikings have looked especially dangerous at times on the left side especially when Danielle Stephens has been on the ball. Earlier in the match, she had Lexi Clarke open on the other side of the goal mouth but Cosby keeper Blayne Fink put a stop to that. 11:35am (32nd minute) - Still scoreless but the Vikings are getting some good looks now. Amber Cook had a header off a Lexi Clarke corner called back for impeding the goalkeeper in the 24th. A play earlier, Ashley Manning found herself alone on a right side 1v1 but Fink won the battle with her first save of the match. Just a second ago, Hook was nearly all alone outside the box for the Titans but Viking defender Katie Beebe put a stop to that with simultaneous contact on the ball. 11:45am (Halftime) - 0-0. It's been a match fitting of a state semifinal thus far. Team stats at the break include (LV/COS): Shots 7/7, Saves 3/1, Fouls 4/3, Corners 2/3, Offsides 2/0. 12:07pm (50th minute) - both teams have had their chances early in the second half but Cosby appears to be more of the aggressor at this point of play in terms of holding possession and distributing the ball well up the pitch but with nothing to show for it as of yet. Loudoun Valley has managed to get their strikers through at times including what has been their best run to date just a second ago. Ashley Manning's cross was on point but Tabitha McHale could not connect with a sliding right foot. 12:10pm (53rd minute) - Manning pressed onward again for the Vikings toward the left post off a long ball from Danielle Stephens but Cosby defender Stephanie Sacco shielded her wide of the frame before she could muster an attempt. 12:17pm (60th minute) - What could've been a controversial moment turned out to be nothing at all. Charlotte Ratcliff sent a ball through from the right side of midfield to Tabitha McHale who, after making a first touch past Fink, had the net to herself from the top of the box. Her shot pushed wide left clanging back into play off the back support of the slingshot goal. The referee allowed play to continue but fortunately LV pushed the ball out of play for a goal kick. Still 0-0. 12:20pm (63rd minute) - Sacco makes another great stop on a Viking run, tackling the ball off of oncoming striker Lexi Clarke for a goal kick. 12:25pm (68th minute) - GOAL COSBY: Courtney Hook directed a ball diagonally over the Loudoun Valley defense to Joy Grove. Her third touch caromed off Haracic to Becca Wann, and her grounder from nine yards was helped in the net at the goal line by a LV defender. Cosby 1-0 Loudoun Valley 12:30pm (73rd minute) - The Vikings' paced has expectedly increased following the Titan goal. Stephens hit a ball through traffic to Fink for the save an a couple other chances followed for Loudoun Valley. 12:33pm (76th minute) - GOAL LOUDOUN VALLEY: Chrystal Oden accepted a Blayne Fink punt at midfield and directed to Lexi Clarke along the right flank. Clarke crossed it in to Ashley Manning who volleyed it inside the near post with her right foot. Cosby 1-1 Loudoun Valley 12:39pm (End of Regulation) - Let extra time begin! 12:49pm (End first mandatory OT) - Loudoun Valley had fed off its momentum of the late equalizer by Manning. Only one shot taken in the extra frame thus far - a Taylor Payne breakaway just over a minute in from the left that just missed the frame to the right thanks to pressure from GK Blayne Fink. 12:55pm (End second mandatory OT) - Still 1-1 and Loudoun Valley appears to have the momentum heading into sudden victory. Cosby has made some additional substitutions lately to get fresh legs on the pitch. 1:03pm (End third overtime) - Lucy Etro fed Lexi Clarke from the left for a 1v1 in the 94th minute, but instead of a shot, Clarke elected to try and dribble her way around Fink. The Vikings did not log a shot as we head into one more period. 1:20pm - FINAL: Cosby *2, Loudoun Valley *1 (Titans advance 4-2 in penalties). BOX SCORE BOYS: Battlefield (16-3-2) vs. Deep Run (16-1-1) 1:41pm - Match is underway at Westfield. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is among the patrons in attendance as his twin sons Bobby and Sean play for Deep Run. 1:50pm (9th minute) - Despite a trio of corner kicks and a pair of shots less than a minute later, Deep Run unable to find the net just yet. 1:57pm (16th minute) - Battlefield has picked up the pace, offensively with four shots in as many minutes, including an Adam Clements strike that was handed up in the air by Deep Run goalkeeper Blake Carrey and then cleared off the line with a header by Justin Bauersachs. 2:09pm (28th minute) - A very even match thus far between the Wildcats and Bobcats. Battlefield takes a physical approach to the match with multiple substitutions whil Deep Run aims to space and create chances deep in their opponent's defensive-third. 2:12pm (31st minute) - First booking of the day given to Battlefield's Chris Hernandez for a shoulder check at midfield. 2:23pm - HALFTIME: Deep Run 0-0 Battlefield. Stats at the break include (DR/BATT): Shots 6/4, Saves 0/2, Fouls 7/4, Corners 3/4, Offsides 1/0. 2:36pm (42nd minute) - GOAL BATTLEFIELD: Catching everyone by surprise including the Deep Run defense, Alfonso Mendez lobbed it along the line to Troy Allaire who headed it back off his far left post and just across the line. Deep Run 0-1 Battlefield 2:47pm (52nd minute) - GOAL BATTLEFIELD: The bigger, stronger Bobcats struck again with a left side run by Adam Clements who slipped it just inside the far right post after sliding his way through a pair of Wildcats. Deep Run 0-2 Battlefield 2:50pm (55th minute) - Both Alec Schaffer (DR) and Chris Hernandez (BATT) trade a pair of heavy blasts on frame, both of which required world-class saves by the opposing goalkeepers. 2:56pm (60th minute) - The urgency to get a goal back is apparent for Deep Run but Battlefield has not only hung tough defensively but countered efficiently. 3:18pm (74th minute) - Things have become a bit chippy between the two sides over the past 12 minutes with some bookings and injuries. Deep Run hasn't produced anything overly dangerous in terms of their attack, almost appearing phased at times against the physicality employed by the Bobcats. Just a second ago, GK Jack Eaton came up with a short Deep Run header by Jack Kendall who proceeded to accidentally head-butt Eaton, bloodying his mouth while 3:25pm (78th minute) GOAL BATTLEFIELD: Eaton, quickly returning to the match after stopping the bleeding and changing his bloodied jersey, assisted a long ball through to Troy Allaire who closed out the Battlefield advancement with a right side finish. 3:27pm - Deep Run 0-3 Battlefield (FT) BOX SCORE BOYS: Cox (23-0-0) vs. Stone Bridge (18-3-0) 5:05pm (2nd minute) - GOAL COX: Hunter Byrnes played a right side cross to the far post to Zac Eckert who headed the ball in to Eric Bird for the goal. Stone Bridge 0-1 Cox 5:15pm (10th minute) - Cox has taken the first eight shots of the match after Stone Bridge opened with a pair of set pieces in the first minute (long throw and corner kick), although things have settled a bit in recent possessions. 5:20pm (15th minute) - Chris Albiston just unleashed a top-spun beauty from just outside the box but Nick Lowery miraculously bumped the ball wide with the outside of his left hand. 5:30pm (30th minute) - Drew Hartell entered the match for the first time since the Beach District quarterfinals for Cox in the 16th minute, and has proceeded to pick up a persistence booking in the 29th. While Cox currently holds a 12-3 shot advantage, Stone Bridge has slipped through well at times with two great opportunities challenged by Cox keeper Mark Nankervis. Still 1-0. 5:32pm (32nd minute) GOAL COX: David Ellis headed in a service in traffic to put the Falcons up another. Stone Bridge 0-2 Cox 5:47pm (Halftime) - Falcons lead by two at the break. Stats at the half (COX/SB): Shots 15/4, Saves 1/4, Fouls 8/4, Corners 3/1, Offsides 0/0. 5:58pm (41st minute) - For the second time this match, Stone Bridge opens up with a run up the right resulting in a long throw. The Bulldogs throw it deep in the Falcons box but Tommy Dunne committed a foul against Nankervis. 6:05pm (47th minute) - Cox is playing out of sorts to begin the second half holding what many coaches refer to as the scariest lead in soccer. If Stone Bridge wants to strike, it could be here. Zac Eckert picked up a retaliatory yellow card just a few minutes ago and quickly removed the boot to ice up what appears to be his ankle. The Falcons also looked frustrated on a couple other nearby situations. 6:12pm (53rd minute) COX GOAL: Hunter Byrnes dealt a ball into the goal mouth for Paul Braunstein who slid it in for the Falcons. Stone Bridge 0-3 Cox 6:20pm (61st minute) The third Falcon goal seemed to kill what momentum the Bulldogs were generating early in the second half; however, they are still looking better on the attack second half. 6:26pm (67th minute) COX GOAL: Alex Royo scores his first goal for Cox off a Chris Albiston service from the left. Subs frantically follow for the Falcons. Stone Bridge 0-4 Cox 6:37pm (76th minute) - Most of the Cox starters are off and getting iced up for the brief turnaroudn as they appear headed for a school record 30th straight victory and second straight trip to the State Championship match. 6:40pm - Stone Bridge 0-4 Cox (FT) BOX SCORE GIRLS: Stone Bridge (19-0-2) vs. Cox (21-1-1) 7:10pm (4th minute) GOAL STONE BRIDGE: Ashley Herndon, off a feed from the right, took two touches to get past Cox GK Rachel King and finished the loose ball near the left post. It marks the first time Cox has trailed in the playoff and for the first time since their 2-1 loss to Ocean Lakes in the regular season. Stone Bridge 1-0 Cox 7:15pm (8th minute) GOAL STONE BRIDGE: Murielle Tiernan scored near poston a third touch off a Emily Fredrikson free kcik from midfield to put Cox in a two goal hole. Stone Bridge 2-0 Cox 7:25pm (18th minute) - Cox seems to have settled down since the rough start; however, they continue to play three in the back against what is easily the fastest team they've seen (and that's with both goals coming from freshmen). It will be interesting to see how the remainder of the half progresses. 7:32pm (25th minute) - Still 2-0 SB but Cox isn't void of scoring opportunities. There just hasn't been a good finish to date. Bulldogs with a 4-3 shot advantage but they're finding plenty of space between the Cox defense and midfield. 7:38pm (31st minute) - Falcons with an advantageous scoring opportunity 12 yards clear of the box. Lauren Muncy decided to fire at the goal on the set piece, saved by Julia Harmison for Stone Bridge. 7:48pm - HALFTIME: Stone Bridge 2-0 Cox. Falcons had a late first half run started by a great ball from the right side by Hayley Cook to Meredith Corner but the Bulldog defense cleared it wide. Stats at the break (COX/SB): Shots 4/9, Saves 3/1, Fouls 5/5, Corners 2/2, Offsides 0/1. 8:05pm (48th minute) GOAL STONE BRIDGE: Ashley Herndon finished off a loose ball in the box after King had two hands on a left side service from the Bulldogs. Stone Bridge 3-0 Cox 8:08pm (50th minute) GOAL STONE BRIDGE: For the second time in the match, the Bulldogs two-time the Falcons. Murielle Tiernan with a right side cross to Melissa Rodriguez alone on the far post for the one-timed shot. Stone Bridge 4-0 Cox 8:13pm (55th minute) - Cox with its best chance of the match as Jessie Klamut made a run up the middle but her shot was cleared wide by the feet of GK Julia Harmison for a save. 8:23pm (65th minute) - Ashley Herndon checks out of the match three minutes earlier for Stone Bridge after a two goal performance in the State Semis. Herndon, who has come up big for the Bulldogs all season, made her case for State Player of the Year, even as a freshman. Was all over the place for Stone Bridge tonight. 8:33pm (75th minute) - Falcons still pressing onward despite the large deficit to the nation's #2-ranked team. Jessie Klamut with some close shot attempts and a nice cross to Brittany Krause. Still, the Bulldogs maintain the clean sheet. 8:38pm - Stone Bridge 4-0 Cox (FT) BOX SCORE |
| LINKS |