NEWPORT NEWS — Whereas Tuesday night’s Virginia High School Coaches Association senior All-Star boys and girls basketball games were high-scoring affairs, Wednesday night’s girls soccer contest had to go to a shootout to determine a winner after a scoreless regulation.
When the East squad won 1-0 (4-3 on penalty kicks), it seemed like an injustice for Heritage’s Brielle Spencer, E.C. Glass’ Jeanine Johnston and the rest of the West All-Stars.
“I feel like we dominated,” said Johnston, a Liberty University signee who had a couple of high-quality shots on goal saved by Cox goalie Kristen Carden, bound for Virginia Tech. “I thought one was going to get right past her. I was so mad. I just wanted someone to score because we had so many opportunities.”
Johnston was slide tackled on a first-half shot before West MVP Diana Wiegel, who converted one of her team’s three penalty kicks, missed the rebound wide left.
Spencer, who will play at High Point (N.C.) this fall, shifted from midfield, where she played all four years for the Pioneers, to defense, where she started for the Roanoke Star.
“That’s where I played on my club team and that’s where I’m going to play in college, so that’s where I’m more comfortable,” Spencer said. “I don’t mind not scoring.”
She didn’t make any defensive gaffes and even put a shot on goal, saved by Carden.
“I had one shot from the back, a half-volley off the corner kick that rebounded out,” said Spencer, who said the high-level test prepared her to report to High Point on Aug. 10. “It was good summer play, good hard-core soccer. It was very good competition, pretty soccer.”
Midway through the second half, both Johnston and Spencer came in on the right side and worked some quality passing combinations up the field.
“It was good to have her up in front of me to play off of,” Spencer said. “We played together when we were little. That was cool to play with her again.”
She also had a final chance to play with four of her fall travel teammates — Blacksburg’s Marfy Easterwood and Marianne Dubinsky, Salem’s Kendall Dishaw and Cave Spring’s Rachel Beaumont.
“It was awesome to get to play with them again,” Spencer said, “(and) definitely, a great way to end (her high school career). I loved it.”
Johnston, who knew five of the players from her Olympic Development Program team, said the game raised her confidence level before being initiated into Division I college soccer.
“It was a great experience,” she said. “I got a lot of playing time. I felt just like I was playing at Glass. I’m playing with the best kids in Virginia and I’m doing average. It brings my confidence up. I’m used to playing with the same people for so long and then when you play with different people, you get better.”
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