Playing in the national round of 16 for the first time, Lionsbridge FC took full advantage.
Supported by a crowd at Christopher Newport’s TowneBank Stadium, the Lions defeated the North Carolina Fusion 3-1 Sunday night behind Christian Hatley’s two goals.
The victory sends Lionsbridge to the Eastern Conference final next Friday night against the Ocean City Nor’Easters of New Jersey. The winner of that match will stay in Newport News for a national semifinal Sunday.
Lionsbridge took control early on the way to its sixth consecutive victory. Andrew Bennett gave the hosts a 1-0 lead with a powerful shot in the fifth minute, and Hatley made it 2-0 in the 11th.
Grafton High graduate Isaiah Chisolm, whose goal Friday gave Lionsbridge a 1-0 victory over the Charlotte Eagles, added an assist to Hatley in the 21st for a three-goal lead.
The Fusion got its goal shortly before halftime but couldn’t come back in the final 45 minutes.
Both teams played short one man for the last 34 minutes because of an ejection. Chisolm got his second yellow card, and a North Carolina player got a red card for a violent play.
So Lionsbridge next will welcome the Nor’Easters, who beat the Hudson Valley Hammers in a penalty shootout on New York’s Long Island to advance.
BASKETBALL
Christmas scores 50 in Pro-Am game
Longwood player Michael Christmas netted 50 points and Bluefield’s Eli White had 41 to lead Harvey Lindsay past the Warriors 135-114 in Hampton Roads 7 Cities Pro-Am competition Sunday at Norview High in Norfolk.
Also, the Wildcats defeated Jarcam 89-79, the Raptors outlasted the Barristers 104-101 despite Pharaoh Lassiter’s 28 points, and Deron Powers scored 33 to help Team Brown defeat the Norview Alumni 103-90.
Jaylani Darden scored 29 and Jalen Milt 22 for the Norview Alumni.
Former Norview player Keyontae Johnson, a rookie with the Oklahoma City Thunder, showed up in the gym to support his fellow former Pilots.
GOLF
Ex-Hokie takes State Open title
Pro Connor Burgess of Lynchburg shot a 5-under-par 66 Sunday to come from off the pace and win the State Open of Virginia at Independence Golf Club in Chesterfield County. The former Virginia Tech golfer finished at 10-under 203 for 54 holes.
Burgess, an individual NCAA regional qualifier in 2022, equaled the day’s best round to win by one stroke over amateur Rylan Shim, a Centreville golfer who soon will play for the Florida Gators.
Haymarket amateur Scott Shingler, who led after the first two rounds, Longwood University player Justin LaRue and pros Brandon Berry and Mark Lawrence shared third place, two shots behind Burgess.
Burgess, the first pro to win the State Open since 2018, sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole, believing he could be going to a playoff. But Shim three-putted 18 for bogey, and LaRue failed to make a par that would have kept him tied for the lead.
Chesapeake’s Patrick Gareiss, who has starred for Hickory High and Radford University, shot 67 to finish in a ninth-place tie at 5 under. Gloucester High graduate Josh Speight, a pro in New Kent County at The Club at Viniterra, tied for 12th at 209 with a final-round 69.
Rising ninth-grader Brandon Sipe of Yorktown shared 22nd at 212 after his closing 72.
