Hidden Valley girls power past JF in quarterfinals

FOREST — Jefferson Forest’s girls soccer team generated numerous scoring chances in its Group AA state quarterfinal soccer match against Region IV power Hidden Valley.

But the Cavaliers were unable to convert any of those into goals while the Titans capitalized twice in a 2-0 triumph, replicating the score of the scrimmage between the two teams nearly three months ago.

“I saw a different JF team today,” Hidden Valley coach Will Krause said. “They were energetic. We’re lucky to come out of here with a win tonight.”

Clemson-bound forward Maddy Elder netted both of Hidden Valley’s goals, her 35th and 36th of the season. The first came off a cross from freshman Lacey Todd midway through a first half in which the Cavaliers held a slight edge in time of possession and shots on goal.

“Our girls played with a lot of heart today and I’m proud of them,” JF coach Stan Golon said. “In the first half, we put the ball on frame and kept the ball on their end. We continued the fight and never quit.”

Trailing 1-0 at halftime, JF came agonizingly close to netting the equalizer on three occasions — the first two by Taylor Duff and the third by Chelsea Hayes.

Five minutes after intermission, Duff hooked a shot from just inside the right side of the 18-yard box over Hidden Valley goalkeeper Anna Romeiser just wide of the left post.

Later, Hayes sent a crossing pass from the right side that skidded past Romeiser right to Duff in front of an open net. But she lifted her one-timed, point-blank shot just over the crossbar as she slid on her knees and fell to her back in disbelief.

The Cavaliers generated their last quality opportunity with 10 minutes remaining in regulation when Cameron DeWitt received a throw-in from Marlee Flynt up the left sideline and sent a short pass to Hayes. She took one dribble and launched a shot from inside the left side of the box that struck off the crossbar. Courtney Zongrone, who was charging the goal, couldn’t get a foot on the rebound and Hidden Valley started a transition the other way.

Less than a minute later, JF goalkeeper Dorothy Nugent charged out of the box to confront a Titan breakaway, but was called for a foul after getting tangled up with the attacker.

“She played pretty aggressive tonight and it hurt her in the end,” Golon said, though he acknowledged she prevented an almost sure goal with the foul.

Elder was awarded an indirect free kick from less than 25 yards out and calmly lifted her shot over the Cavaliers’ defensive wall into the upper right corner of the net.

“She’s such a competitor and a hard worker,” Krause said. “She calmed herself down and nonchalantly hit a great free kick.”

Forest’s first trip to the state tournament in nine seasons was worthwhile.

“To finish 17-4-1 is not too shabby,” Golon said.

The Titans (21-2-1) will meet Region IV champion Salem for the fifth time this season in Friday’s semifinal game at Radford University. The Spartans, who beat Lord Botetourt 4-0, dealt Hidden Valley both of its losses and its only tie.