Revitalized Bristol Propels Chantilly to Victory

Chantilly senior Cortlyn Bristol watched her powerful 30-yard, high-arcing shot drop through the tiny slot between the crossbar and the outstretched fingers of Atlee's leaping goalkeeper in last night's 1-0 Virginia AAA quarterfinal victory at home.

She turned her back to her 45th minute game-winner before it even hit the back of the net.

She did not smile. She did not celebrate. She walked straight into the outstretched arms of All-Met midfielder Katie Menzie.

Menzie's bear hug was more than a congratulatory embrace; it was a consoling gesture that helped Bristol bury the frustrations and doubts that have followed her during an injury-packed senior year.

"It's been so frustrating because I know I've been playing bad, but there's just nothing I could do about it," said Bristol, a William & Mary-bound midfielder and two-time All-Met who struggled to regain her form following an early-season concussion. "It's been really hard."

She's also played through a nagging back injury that's caused her to visit a chiropractor twice a month since she was 13 years old.

This week, blood tests revealed Bristol unknowingly played the entire spring season with mononucleosis.

"She's just had so many obstacles this year," Menzie said.

Initially, fifth-ranked Chantilly (18-2-1) struggled to subdue Atlee (17-2-2), which featured a physical and speedy front powered by freshmen Ashley Riefner and Sam Armentrout and senior forward Jordan Roseboro -- a small creator who often got through the Chargers' backline.

But Bristol's goal pushed the Chargers into Friday's 2 p.m. semifinal at Westfield, part of a doubleheader in which they'll face the winner of Kempsville (12-5-2) and Riverbend (16-3-2).

Last night, Kempsville was leading Riverbend, 1-0, with eight minutes left in the first half before inclement weather postponed the finish. The game will resume today at 1 p.m.

Friday's other semifinal at Westfield will pit Mills Godwin (17-3-1) against Cox (20-1-2) at 4 p.m.

Cox defeated Forest Park, 3-1, in overtime, and Mills Godwin dropped No. 7 Oakton, 1-0, to advance. . . .

No. 2 Broad Run (21-0-1) defeated Jamestown, 3-0, in a AA state quarterfinal last night at home.

The victory pushed Broad Run into Friday's 10 a.m. semifinal at Radford University, where it will face the winner of today's 4 p.m. game between Heritage (14-7-2) and Courtland (17-0-2).

Defending AA state champion Broad Run is riding one of the most dominant unbeaten streaks in the nation, having gone 45-0-1 in the past two seasons. Last night's shutout gave senior All-Met goalkeeper Caitlin Hunter (UNC Wilmington) the state record for single season shutouts (18).

Earlier this year, she broke the record for career shutouts and currently has 61.

In a Virginia A quarterfinal, defending state champion George Mason (17-2-1) rolled over Washington & Lee, 14-0, as 10 players scored to improve the Mustangs' win streak to 14. During that streak, George Mason has 11 shutouts and has outscored opponents 105-3.