Kempsville, Cox earn state berths in soccer

NORFOLK

Just put it in. That's all Kempsville junior Molly Gallagher kept telling herself as she lined up for the penalty kick. If she made it, the Chiefs were going to the state tournament for the first time since 1997. If she missed, Kempsville faced another period of penalty kicks.

Gallagher was successful, giving the Chiefs the victory over Hickory at Old Dominion University Soccer Stadium. Kempsville won in penalty kicks 4-3 after the match ended in a scoreless tie.

"I picked the corner I was going to go to even before (penalty kicks) even started," she said. "I lined up straight so (the goalie) couldn't figure out which side I was going to go to. Then I just looked her straight in her eyes and not to the side where I was going to. Then I kept my composure and finished it."

Her goal sent the Chiefs (12-4-2) to Friday's Eastern Region final, where they will play a familiar foe in Cox (18-1-2) at 5:30 p.m. at Powhatan Field. The Falcons advanced with a 5-0 victory over Great Bridge.

Kempsville coach Lauren Tucei said she was relieved to see her team advance. The last time the Chiefs made it to the state tournament, Tucei was a Kempsville player. That team made it all the way to the state final.

This season, the Chiefs have played five overtime games, with one ending in penalty kicks. So Tucei wasn't concerned when the game lagged on.

"We've been in these situations before," she said. "Our district is the strongest one out there, and there are several other teams that could be in our spot right now. But we battled through. It's the sign of a good team."

Hickory (16-4-0) outshot the Chiefs 14-5 in regulation and 7-3 during the overtime periods.

"When you're doing penalty kicks," Tucei said, "it's a crap shoot."

It worked out for the Chiefs, who have won 10 of their past 11 matches. Meanwhile, the Hawks had their 14-game win streak snapped.

"Sometimes it's just not your day," Hawks coach David Richels said. "We hit the goalpost three times. That's a tough way to end it, but I can't take anything away from Kempsville. They did a great job. "

Kempsville will take on Cox, which beat the Chiefs twice this season, including last week in the Beach District tournament final.

Wednesday against Great Bridge, Cox got two goals from senior Chloe Russell and one each from Emory Camper, Charley Martin and Molly Jarrett. The Falcons have outscored their opponents 25-1 during the postseason and 42-1 in their past seven matches.

"I don't keep track of stuff like that," Falcons coach Michele Clark said. "But our defense had great pressure tonight, and they controlled the match."

On offense, "we did a great job of finishing chances, and when we got one, we put it away," she said.

The Falcons have now advanced to the state tournament four consecutive seasons.

"We're excited because we've really worked hard for that," Russell said. "We lost a lot of people from last year, but I think the teamwork and effort we've put into it has been amazing."

Eastern Region semifinals

Cox 5, Great Bridge 0

G-Russell 2, Camper, Martin, Jarrett

Kempsville 0, Hickory 0

Kempsville wins 4-3 on penalty kicks

Larry Rubama, (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com