Boys soccer
Class 5
Cox 2, Riverside 1: Opportunities were scarce for both teams in a taut semifinal, but the Falcons took advantage of the last one to earn a return trip to the state championship game.
Robbie Reynolds scored on a header, assisted by Alex Mausser, in the 70th minute and Cox held on for a victory on Riverside’s field in Leesburg. The Falcons (16-3-2) will try to repeat as champs when they play Beach District rival Princess Anne at 10 a.m. Saturday at Riverside.
Beach teams have not played each other for a boys soccer title since Kempsville defeated Cox 2-1 in 1997.
“We had two chances, two goals — that’s it, but that’s all it takes,” Reynolds said. “I saw that coming from a mile away. The centerback kind of got dragged over, focused on the ball too much, and I was wide open. I thought I could get up over the keeper, and that’s what happened.”
Dax Booth scored a first-half goal for Cox, which has split two meetings against Princess Anne this season, but won the latest matchup in the Region A championship game.
— Jami Frankenberry
Class 4
Smithfield 0, Loudoun County 0 (Smithfield wins 4-3 on PKs): The Packers ensured it will be an All-Bay Rivers District state championship game, winning a penalty kick shootout 4-3 after the teams played a scoreless tie through regulation and four five-minute overtimes.
The Packers (16-6-1), who won their first state title in 2021, will play Jamestown for the title at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Spotsylvania.
Onesime Muepu, his brother Andy Muepu, Jayden Marble and Luke Skinner found the net as the Packers were 4 for 4 on their PKs. Packers coach Jason Henderson inserted freshman Jackson Stanley in goal specifically for the shootout, and he came through with a save.
Loudoun County fell behind in the second round when its player hit the post. Loudoun County’s fifth kicker shot over the bar, clinching Smithfield’s second spot in the state final in the past three seasons.
Jamestown 2, Jefferson Forest 0: The Eagles are back in a boys soccer state championship game for the first time since 2015 and, to the surprise of no one, Max Cooper led the way.
Cooper, a sophomore, scored two goals in the first five minutes to increase his total for the season to 44. Cooper scored his first goal on a pass from Sam Forrester and his second on an assist from Patrick Buckley.
The Eagles (20-4) created several good chances after that, but the Cavaliers (18-2) stopped them. When the Eagles moved into defensive mode to blunt the Cavaliers’ free kicks and penalty kicks, defenders Hunter House, Nick Lauber, Jake Davis and goalkeeper Caleb Nixon were up to the task.
“It’s great to be in the state championship game,” Eagles coach Phil Geyer said. “With our seniors and our experience from last year, we felt from the start of the season we deserved to be here.
“We still do.”
Class 3
Charlottesville 3, Tabb 1: Michael Hackworth, who scored the winning goal in the state championship game a year ago, scored the lone goal for the Tigers (12-6-2) in their semifinal. The Tigers were in a 3-0 hole by then, however, and could not rally despite controlling the run of play for much of the second half.
“We surged at the end, but it wasn’t enough,” Tabb coach Scott Kuhnle said. “Considering the talent, size and strength we lost from last year, we did great to make the final four.”
Hackworth, scoring leader Austin Robertson (22 goals), defensive standout Noah Martin and goalkeeper Carlos Butros — who saved a penalty kick in the state semis — all graduate.
Class 2
Glenvar 5, Poquoson 1: The Islanders enjoyed one of the best boys soccer seasons in school history, winning a first-ever region title and winning a state tournament game to reach the state semifinals for the first time.
The ending was difficult, though, as the Islanders fell in Roanoke. RB Brown, the Region A Player of the Year, scored the only goal for the Islanders, but by then they were in a 4-0 hole.
Poquoson coach Charles Sneddon complimented the play on Friday of goalkeeper Francesco Bianco, a foreign exchange student who made several difficult saves. He also cited the strong play all season of Brown, Ian MacArthur (21 goals) and all-region forward Lucas Markley.
“They were a really talented squad with a lot of speed on the outside to make scoring opportunities,” Sneddon said. “We lost a lot of seniors last year, but our guys responded well this season and did great job.
“We feel this is good experience to build up for next year.”
Girls soccer
Class 5
Independence 4, First Colonial 3: Viviana Pope’s hat trick foiled the Patriots’ bid to return to a third consecutive state championship game.
First Colonial, the state champion in 2021 and a runner-up last season, finished this season 16-3.
Ava Bourne scored twice for the Patriots, and Sydney Miller added a goal.
In the other Class 5 semifinal, Deep Run built a 4-0 halftime lead and blanked Princess Anne 6-0.
Class 4
Western Albemarle 2, Great Bridge 0: The Wildcats’ season ended in the semifinals, but coach Micah Moyer was satisfied that his players left all they had on the field.
“We lost to a very organized and talented (team),” Moyer said. “My girls committed to a game plan, played with their minds and hearts, and I can’t ask for more than that.
“Western Albemarle did not display any weaknesses or have any letdowns, so I tip my hat to them.”
Tuscarora 2, Smithfield 0: The Packers’ season ended at the same stage, and to the same team, for the second consecutive season.
Packers coach Nathan Jones complimented the play Friday of Packers Kaitlyn Worrell, Katie Lutz, Emma Forbes and, especially, goalkeeper Sydney Schwarz, who will play next season on scholarship for South Florida.
“We went 37-6 over the past two years and won the district and region championships,” Jones said. “I can’t say enough about these girls. They’ve left a tremendous legacy at Smithfield High.”
Class 2
Wise County Central 2, Bruton 0: Sophia Stallard’s rebound goal of a shot off the crossbar gave the Warriors the lead, and Olivia Webb added a goal in the final minutes.
That ended an unexpected run to the state semifinals for a Bruton team (10-10) that was 0-9 in the tough Bay Rivers District, but won every other game. Kaylah Smith finished the season as the Region A Player of the Year, with 23 goals, and was joined on the All-Region team by teammates Mariah Gonzales and Chloe McLain.
Baseball
Class 4
Smithfield 1, Tuscarora 0: The surprising Packers’ fifth consecutive victory in postseason play — after entering postseason below .500 — sends Smithfield (14-10) to a state championship game for the first time in program history. They’ll play defending state champ Hanover for the title at 11 a.m. Saturday at Spotsylvania.
Maddax Brown pitched the first five innings of the shutout on Friday before Ty Hedgepeth pitched two shutout innings to secure the victory. They were so effective they made the Packers’ one run, scored in the second inning, all that was needed.
Brown walked to start the second before he was replaced by courtesy runner Jayden Upton-Hall. Hedgepeth bunted Upton-Hall to second base before Evan Brobst singled him home.
“Maddax didn’t have his best stuff, but he battled, nibbled the corners and never gave into adversity,” Smithfield coach Nolan Christopher said. “Hedgepeth battled, hit his spots and didn’t walk anybody.
“Playing for the state championship is an outstanding opportunity for Smithfield baseball, Smithfield High School and the town. A Smithfield baseball team has never won a region crown and advanced to states, let alone to the state final.”
Softball
Class 3
York 12, Cave Spring 9: Amy Hunter pitched York into a softball state semifinal 28 years ago. Her daughter made sure her mom would go one better as the Falcons’ coach by hitting them into a state championship game.
Morgan Hunter, a senior, had four hits and five RBIs on Friday to lead the Falcons to a semifinal win at Riverbend High. Her two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning was the big blast as the Falcons scored six runs to break a 5-all tie.
Having beaten one team from Roanoke, the Falcons (18-7) will play another. They’ll face Northside — a 1-0 winner over defending state champion New Kent in the other semifinal — for the state title at 11 a.m. Saturday at Riverbend.
Brianna Petrolia had three hits and scored three runs, while Kenlee Washington and Ashtyn Howe each had two hits as part of the 17-hit York attack. Cave Spring touched York starter Sarah Witt for 14 hits, but Witt got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh without giving up a run to secure the victory.
“Sarah showed phenomenal composure and got the job done when she needed to,” Coach Hunter said. “We knew they were hard-hitting and we’d give up some hits, so we knew we’d have to come back with some big innings at the plate as well.
“Making it to the state championship game is the goal of every team. We’re unconventional because our biggest goal has just been to have fun, and we just want to go out relaxed and have more fun Saturday.”
Class 6
McLean 4, Kellam 3: The Highlanders trailed 3-0 after six innings, but Riley Staats’ two-run home run in the seventh inning capped a rally to tie it and force extra innings.
McLean won it by scoring a run in the top of the ninth.
