A GIRLS' SOCCER
Scott Shoots George Mason Into Final
Mustangs Face Goochland High Today at Noon
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Saturday, June 7, 2008
RADFORD, Va., June 6 -- After roughly 90 minutes of bruising soccer in searing conditions, and after four draining overtime periods filled with numerous collisions, George Mason's season came down to Mustangs midfielder Olivia Scott.
Drenched in sweat, and with grass and dirt streaked on her jersey, she jogged into the goal box from midfield and placed the ball neatly on the penalty hash mark.
She took six measured steps back, paused for a moment, then ran up and struck the ball fast and low into the right corner of the goal.
As soon as the ball sailed into the back of the net, cementing George Mason's 2-1 penalty-kick victory over Radford in the Virginia A semifinals at Radford University, Scott pumped her fists, thrust one finger into the air and sprinted into a mob of her exhausted teammates.
"Oh my goodness -- I'm just ecstatic," Scott said.
"Putting it in the right corner, just watching it go in, I just knew it got us into the final. It was just a great feeling."
George Mason (17-3-2) will shoot for its first state title since 2004 Saturday at noon when it plays Goochland, a 5-3 winner over Virginia High in the other semifinal.
The Mustangs' victory avenged their loss to Radford (18-3) in last season's state semifinals and prevented the Bobcats from making a fourth straight appearance in the state championship match.
With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s, Virginia High School League officials allowed water breaks midway through each half.
That helped with the heat, but didn't prevent the Mustangs and Bobcats from consistently slide-tackling and hip-checking each other.
It was a physical game that contributed to George Mason midfielder Elle Silverman leaving the pitch with her right arm in an air cast, and Radford forward Courtney Pattison being helped to the sideline with a cleat mark on her forehead.
"It was an absolute battle," Scott said.
