Mustangs Face Goochland High Today at Noon
By Matthew Stanmyre
Special to The Washington Post
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.
Added George Mason Coach Jennifer Parsons: "This just shows the heart of our team. The depth that we have and the fight that we have.
"They just wanted it so badly this year. We have the girls to do it, and the result shows."
Radford took the lead midway through the second half, but George Mason tied it at 1 when senior midfielder Rachel Kazman slipped a shot in the goal from 15 yards in the 81st minute.
Four five-minute overtime periods followed, with both teams swapping heart-stopping offensive charges.
George Mason won in penalty kicks, 5-4, with Scott's goal serving as the game's climax as nearly every person in the stadium stood, looking on with eyes open wide.
After Scott's goal, Kazman said: "I saw a little glimpse of the [state title] ring. The adrenaline rush was ridiculous.
"Even though we could have come to the point of exhaustion, we did great. I'm so proud of my team."
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