And the beat goes on at JF

FOREST — With members of Jefferson Forest’s boys soccer team providing continuous Brazilian-style percussion from the bleachers, the Cavaliers’ girls finally found their rhythm late in the first half of Friday night’s showdown with Staunton River.
In a Seminole District battle of unbeatens, freshman forward Chelsea Hayes finished a through ball from Cameron DeWitt 32 minutes into the contest for the golden goal in Forest’s 1-0 win over the Golden Eagles.
“It was a lovely through pass to her and she played it in,” said Cavaliers coach Stan Golon, who was pleased to see his team generate some quality scoring chances after a slow start. “It was a matter of getting the ball down and getting it under control, getting good touches and getting into a rhythm.”
Hayes, JF’s second-leading scorer with five goals and three assists on the season, chased down DeWitt’s pass in the right side of the box and blasted it past charging Staunton River freshman goalkeeper Moira Guzi into the upper right side of the net.
Hayes nearly returned the favor with an assist to DeWitt moments later. But after starting a breakaway from near midfield and sending a pass across the box, Guzi blocked DeWitt’s shot with a sliding kick save.
“We came out with heart,” said Hayes, who plays up in age with several of her teammates on an LUS U-16 team. “We knew they were the team to beat so we tried to go hard or go home.”
The Cavaliers improve to 6-1-1 (5-0 in Seminole play) with the victory while the Golden Eagles slip to 7-1 and 5-1.
“I took the blame for their goal,” Staunton River coach Kenneth Young said. “I pulled my sweeper up (right before) they had the through ball and that’s how they got the breakaway.”
JF prevented the Golden Eagles from getting similar opportunities on counterattacks by playing smart position defense.
“They kept their sweeper (Jaime White) way back,” Young said. “We talked about lofting it over her head or kicking it to the flags, but … they run their triangles and wear you out with their passing.”
The Golden Eagles were unable to mount much of an attack after the opening 25 minutes.
“We had their kids on their heels for a long time, but we just couldn’t put it in,” Young said.
Kimmi D’Aiuto, Staunton River’s top scoring threat, missed her team’s best chance when she lifted a running shot from the left side over JF goalkeeper Dorothy Nugent, who came out on the play. But the ball sailed high over the crossbar.
“That would have changed the game if she could have put that one in,” Young said.
D’Aiuto earned a free kick left of Forest’s box early in the second half, but struck it too hard and it went wide of the cage.
The Cavaliers nearly put the game away with a second score in the closing minutes when Jordan May sent a pass up the right sideline to Taylor Duff, who crossed it to Brigid Benincasa. She played it back to leading scorer Brittany Gallagher who chipped a shot that Guzi saved near the right post.
Moments later, Guzi made a high save of a harder shot taken by Gallagher.
“Moira played great in goal,” Young said. “She hadn’t been tested all year and she made some great saves tonight.”
The narrow defeat gives the Golden Eagles hope for their May 12 season-ending home rematch.
“They put a lot of energy into the game,” Golon said of Staunton River. “To keep us to a 1-0 win is good.”