by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
Cosby needed to add one more chapter to end its storybook in grand fashion.
But the Titans ran out of ink with a few pages to go.
Stone Bridge blitzed the Central Region hopeful with three goals in the second half, taking the Northern Region’s 24th state Group AAA girls soccer title 4-0 in the 27th year of the tournament.
As dominant as that mark is, Stone Bridge was just as impressive.
SB showed its prowess with impressive possession and an attacking offense, coupled with an aggressive defense that kept Cosby uncomfortable and surprisingly gave the Titans no corner kicks, a dangerous play for Cosby opponents with 5-10 leaper Becca Wann in the box.
Though the Bulldogs were in control in the first half, no goals were scored by them.
An own goal gave SB a 1-0 lead as Gina D’Orazio knocked in a ball put in the box by Murielle Tiernan as D’Orazio was trying to hold off Emily Luna.
That was in the 28th minute.
“It seemed like the cards were against us today,” Cosby first-year coach Roger Lattimer said. “Maybe we just used up all of our luck before this game.”
The floodgates opened quickly in the second half.
In the 45th minute, Tiernan crossed to an open Ashley Herndon as the freshman pair made it 2-0.
Four minutes later, Herndon got behind the defense on Jazmyn Ervins long ball.
Herndon, who scored her 29th goal of the season on the play, acted as though she would try to head it past Cosby freshman Blayne Fink, but was only controlling the ball.
The play shook Fink off the play and Herndon got an easy one for a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs would get another one from Sara Bowers, as Fink saved her first shot, but the ball trickled out and no Titan was there to clear it, so Bowers finished for the final margin, drying out any Cosby opportunity for a fantasy ending.
Wann afterward was spent, barely able to stand with an injured right leg with a tank on empty after finishing the semifinal game in goal to finish penalty kicks.
She said it best.
“I wish it could have ended then.”
Cosby 0 0 – 0
Stone Bridge 1 3 – 4
SB: Herndon 2, own goal, Bowers
Saves: Fink (C) 4; Harmison (SB) 4
Records: Cosby (19-3-1); Stone Bridge (21-0-2)
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