GIRLS SOCCER: Riverheads sends Bison packing

SWOOPE — To the sounds of cheers echoing off the surrounding mountains, Riverheads defeated Buffalo Gap by a score of 2-1 in the Shenandoah District tournament semifinals.

With the loss, Gap was eliminated from the postseason.

One year after the death of AYSO coach Mike Dattilio, the Gladiators, who had been beaten by the Bison twice already this season, wasted no time in setting a different pace this game. With only a few minutes off the game clock the Gladiators already had several close shots on goal.

With both tears of joy and of sadness, Riverheads junior Kristen Moody said that coach Dattilio had played such a big part in the way she played. She said the team won the game for him.

In the 13th minute of the game, Riverheads senior Jessica Glover scored the first goal of the game, a low shot from about ten yards out.

With another 25 minutes of close calls and near misses the half ended with Riverheads on top 1-0.

The Bison came back from the half pushing the ball and being more aggressive with their shots. Gap’s Morgan Houle had a handful of shots on goal that gave her team a pick-me-up that led to her scoring in the 29th minute with a 30-yard laser, knotting the game 1-1.

The tempo of the game picked up as time ticked by and neither team wanted to send the game into extra minutes. Then, in stoppage time, Gladiator sophomore Jill Jackson was tripped in the goal box, leading to a penalty kick by Moody.

She shot left.

The keeper dove left — but not far enough.

The green field was turned red as the Gladiator teamed rushed the field in celebration.

“It was a thriller. One of those games you’ll remember,” Moody said.

“We knew we had a chance. We worked very hard these past two weeks,” said Riverheads coach Homes Tehrani, soaked after the tub of water was dumped on him.

Tehrani said over the past two weeks of practice his team has worked on ball position.

“We tried not to play kickball. We came in and played our game,” Tehrani said.

Having been knocked out of regional play, Buffalo Gap coach Carrie Lamond said, “They wanted it more. Good job to Moody for scoring that PK.”

She said her team gave “too little, too late.”

“Awesome, awesome game. Every ounce of energy was put into this game,” said Tehrani.

The Gladiators will play the No. 1 Hornets on Thursday at Wilson in the Shenandoah District championship game.

“We’d like to beat Wilson,” said Tehrani.