Kora Jillions was only a few inches away from wrapping up a hat trick.
Instead, her right-footed strike on waist-high ball hit the crossbar. That play was certainly frustrating, but the Albemarle senior forward could hardly be upset after scoring two goals while leading her team to a 4-0 victory over rival Charlottesville on Thursday night, keeping the Albemarle girls undefeated on the season.
It took less than 90 seconds for the Patriots to put the Black Knights on their heels and score the game’s first goal. Sophomore midfielder Cami Weber made a run up the left side before passing in to freshman Devon Higginbottom who sent it in to give Albemarle the very early lead.
Albemarle played aggressively throughout, blitzing the Charlottesville defense every second of the game as if the score was still 0-0.
“One of the things we want to bring is that relentless toughness all night,” said Albemarle head coach Amy Sherill.
The Black Knights did manage to get a shot on goal when Elizabeth Burns shot from the right side. Sydney Alexander made the save for Albemarle and Charlottesville largely struggled to get the ball past the Patriots’ midfielders for the rest of the game.
Albemarle got their second goal of the game with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half. Freshman Natalie Wolfe crossed in a corner kick which several players from both teams went up for but Jillions got her head on it and scored.
“I couldn’t actually really see it,” Jillions said after the game. “I was just going all in because we’re always told to do that. So I just jumped and I guess I got my head on the ball.”
Wolfe nearly scored on Albemarle’s next corner kick as she put the corner cross off the crossbar. Wolfe was a threatening force every time she touched the ball.
At halftime, Albemarle led 2-0.
In the second half, the Patriots continued to press the Black Knights on the offensive end, not content with a two-goal margin. Jillions scored her second goal on a strike from the edge of the box that hit the left post before bouncing in.
“We’re super impressed with Kora,” Sherill said. “She’s been part of our team for four years and knows our system really well. We’re trying to put her in some different positions to see the field differently and she’s just taking advantage of everything in front of her.”
Charlottesville’s freshman goalkeeper Kathryn Lenert made several tough saves to keep the Black Knights in it, including back-to-back saves off of an Albemarle free kick midway through the second half.
Charlottesville’s offense had a few chances to score late in the second half, but one shot went wide of the net and another was saved by a diving Jaya Daniel to maintain the shutout.
With a little over nine minutes to play, Albemarle senior Emily Ward scored on a free kick that found the top left corner of the goal to punctuate the Patriots’ 4-0 victory.
Albemarle will play at Monticello on Monday, while Charlottesville will host Fluvanna County on Monday.
