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Zayas Steps Up: Western’s keeper sparks Warriors past Hanover

Photo by Emmy Franklin

Scrimmage Play contributor Emmy Franklin contributed to this story.

 

At some point in the playoffs, even teams with an explosive offense are going to have to lean on their defense to get the job done. 

 

After building an early lead, Western Albemarle boys lacrosse leaned on its defense and 15 saves from keeper Jack Zayas to beat Hanover and advance to the Region 4A title match against Powhatan Thursday. 

 

Zayas stuffed 12 of those shots in the second half, including five in the fourth quarter. Zayas pointed to the Warriors’ experience against Albemarle in the regular season as a major catalyst for the playoff opener.

 

“After the Albemarle game, we lost to them 13-6 and then we bounced back and won and we’re just going to carry that momentum on,” Zayas said.

 

Western’s offense built a 7-2 lead at the half and appeared set to cruise early on, but the Warriors managed just one goal in the second half and that put the onus on the defense to deliver. Western picked up a ton of ground balls to get that done, holding a 51-27 advantage on that front, with Tyler Spano’s 12, Thomas Kallen’s 10 and Will Ferguson’s nine leading the way. 

 

Offensively, Austin Payne had a hand in five of the Warriors’ eight goals, notching a hat trick and dishing out two assists. Spano scored twice and had an assist while Gray Kallen scored a goal and had an assist. Ferguson and Stuart Widener rounded out the offense with a goal each. 

 

The Warriors will square off with Powhatan at 7 p.m. Thursday night. 

 

 

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