Wilson in Group A tournament

FISHERSVILLE — With a berth to the Group A tournament on the line, Wilson Memorial didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard Wednesday against Goochland.

The Green Hornets’ freshman sensation, Lindsay Suyes, scored three minutes into the match and Wilson rolled through the Bulldogs from there for a 5-0 Region B semifinal win.

“Right when the game ended, coach [Scott Crist] was like, ‘we are going to states’, and everyone started to freak out,” Suyes said.

The win puts Wilson in the Group A tournament which begins Tuesday, but first the Green Hornets will have to play defending Group A champion George Mason in the Region B finals on Friday in Fishersville. The winner will host the first round of the Group A tournament while the region runner up will be on the road.

“We know George Mason is the defending champion but we are going to show up and play as hard as we can for long as we can and see what happens,” said Wilson coach Scott Crist.

Before Wednesday’s game, Wilson didn’t know what to expect from the Bulldogs, but the Green Hornets’ defense was quick to adapt, helping Wilson keeper Brittany Reid earn the shutout.

“My defense held it together really well,” Reid said. “We played one of our best games tonight. It was really rewarding.”

Reid recorded 10 saves, while the Wilson offense put 22 shots on goal. Reid was almost speechless after the game.

“I’m real excited, I’m so excited I can’t wait,” she said. “I’ve never been to states, I’m so excited.”

Reid also stopped a penalty kick in the second half, dropping low to pick off Annelle Cleveland’s shot.

Suyes finished the game with a hat trick, scoring one more goal in the first half and then sunk a penalty kick in the final 16 minutes of the match.

“The other team was tough, they were physical and their goalie cam out really far,” Suyes said. “The team just got around them I don’t know how to explain it.”

Also scoring for the Green Hornets were Angelica Thacker and McCauley Vailes.

Thacker’s goal came after Wilson’s Vailes ripped a shot off the crossbar that fell inches from the goal. Thacker corralled it and scored.

While the offense showed its skill against the Bulldogs, Crist said that solid play from the midfield and defense made the win possible.

“We play four defenders in the back I told them, ‘you don’t get enough love, but you four are the glue to our team,’ ” Crist said. “Those four girls are really there rock. And you just can’t beat what [the midfield] did.”