GIRLS SOCCER: Lee slips by Northside

STAUNTON – R.E. Lee girls soccer coach Andrew Green was happy to escape with a win in Tuesday’s Region III quarterfinal match against visiting Northside.

His Lee Ladies held off Northside 2-1 to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. It marked the first time in school history that girl’s soccer advanced this deep into the regionals.

Lee (14-2-2) has been knocked out of the region in each of the last two years but has a date with destiny Thursday against the winner of the Harrisonburg and E.C. Glass matchup.

“This time of the year, I’ll take a win any way we can get it,” Green said. “It’s one-and-done if you lose now.”

But Green’s Lee Ladies wanted no part of anything short of a win on their last match on the home pitch.

Lee opened play aggressively on offense and pinned the Vikings (9-8-3) to the defensive side of the field. Outshooting Northside 11-2 in the first half, the lone Lee score came on a Willa Grefe steal and breakaway in the 11th minute of play. Grefe hit the left corner of the goal just beyond the outstretched arms of senior keeper Abby Thomas.

Despite the domination, the hosts held a slim 1-0 lead at intermission.

“We started out playing our possession game,” Green said, “but we got sucked into their kickball game late in the period.”

Blair McDonough’s penalty kick in the 50th minute gave Lee a 2-0 lead. Northside was called for an intentional hand ball, giving the kick to Lee about 15 yards in front of the net. McDonough blasted the ball to the corner and Thomas never had a chance.

The Vikings answered five minutes later as Emma Wade’s penalty kick beak Lee keeper Kaitlyn Campbell to keep it close.

“You know, a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous lead,” Green said. “We got that PK and just went flat. Northside took advantage of that to get right back in the game.”

Lee’s defense came through in the clutch as a rejuvenated Northside squad kept up the pressure. But even a late corner kick in the final minute —with every Viking in the box — was not enough as Campbell grabbed the cross before Northside could push it in.

Lee finished with 17 shots on goal to just five for Northside. Campbell finished the day with three saves while the Vikings’ Thomas knocked down 10 Lee shots.

Lee will make a short bus ride Thursday as the semifinals will be held on the Waynesboro pitch.

“It will be like a home game for us,” Green said. “We like the field at Waynesboro and we hope to have a good home crowd there.”