JF girls soccer falls in semis

RADFORD — Broad Run’s girls soccer team didn’t get to be three-time defending Group AA state champions by chance.

By dominating time of possession, keeping the ball on Jefferson Forest’s half of the field for the majority of the contest, the Spartans extended their run of success with a 5-0 Group AA semifinal triumph over the Cavaliers, Saturday at Radford University’s Cupp Stadium.

“Jamestown had warned me they’re big, fast, technical and strong,” JF coach Stan Golon said.

The Spartans (23-1), who have outscored opponents 90-15 this season and whose loss to Dulles District rival Briar Woods was their first since 2007, proved that to be true.

They will seek to claim a fourth consecutive championship with a fourth straight shutout in today’s final against Blacksburg, a 1-0 winner over Woodgrove.

JF looked like the home team Saturday, decked out in red uniforms that matched RU’s colors. But Broad Run made itself very much at home in Cavaliers’ territory, generating several quality scoring chances with superior ball control and offensive positioning.

“We’ve been here before so we know how big the field is,” said Spartans senior midfielder Ellie Zoepfl, who will continue her career at Virginia Tech next fall. “We worked on possessing the ball (and) we definitely managed the game.”

Senior midfielder Whitney Church, a Penn State recruit, tallied two of Broad Run’s three first-half goals, the first sparked by a quick give-and-go from Erin Brady in the right side of JF’s box 12 minutes into the game.

Her last goal came on an incredible 40-yard turnaround that sailed over the head of Cavaliers goalkeeper Allie Gossen, sank under the crossbar and swished in the back of the net 10 minutes before halftime.

In between, sophomore forward Cassie Smith finished a counterattack after a rare Forest offensive by chipping a left-footed shot from just inside the left of the box into the upper-right corner of the goal, just beyond the reach of a leaping Gossen’s outstretched hand.

JF (19-1-2) finally put its first shot on goal when senior midfielder Katherine Frank stole the ball from Spartans defender Chelsea Davis and sent a through pass up to Chelsea Hayes, an RU recruit whose crossing shot from the left side was saved by Broad Run sophomore keeper Haley Casanova at the left post.

Cassidy Ratliff’s left-footed shot from inside the left of the box curved just wide of the right post moments later.

“Their defense was stifling any time we did get forward (and) they were very good at winning 50-50 balls,” Golon said.

A halftime lightening delay failed to recharge the Cavaliers, who gave up two more goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half. Zoepfl converted twice in a span of four and a half minutes, heading a corner-kick cross from Church up and over Gossen before dribbling through two defenders into the right side of the box, drawing Gossen to her and angling a shot inside the left post for the final score.

The Cavaliers thought they might have an advantage playing on the college-dimension field at Cupp Stadium, but that didn’t turn out to be the case.

“It was pretty difficult, coming to a larger field,” said Frank, who will play next fall at Lynchburg College. “We still tried as hard as we could, but that was a really good team. It was fun playing them. It was a good experience. Hopefully, in the future, they’ll be better prepared.”

“We’re going to walk out of here as a learning experience, holding our heads high,” Golon added. “The girls showed some composure and competed as well as they could have.”

The loss wasn’t as decisive as the last time Forest appeared in the state final in 2000, when the Cavaliers were blanked by Potomac Falls, 11-0, a year after the Panthers dropped down from Group AAA. The Spartans are moving up to Group AAA next fall.