The game of soccer is never fun when a team is suffering an off-night on offense. However, for the Lady Bulldogs, an off-night on offense merely saved the Nelson County Governors embarrassment. Hoping to go farther than they have ever gone before, the Goochland took to the soccer field with a vengeance in their Memorial Day match up against the Nelson County, as a result, the quarterfinal of the Group A, Region B playoffs held little suspense. Goochland dominated from the onset and rolled to an impressive 7-2 win, despite suffering what senior Amy Zickefoose deemed an off-night on offense.

“I think we played well,” she said. “We could have played better but out shots weren’t falling.”

Shots weren’t falling?

Sophomore Holly Donavon got the Bulldogs off to a hot start from the left corner midway through the first half by driving a shot into the steady wind and the corner of the goal for a score. From then on, Governors’ keeper Heather Bradley spent most of the afternoon diving after Goochland shot attempts.

  “We got off to a fast start,” said Goochland head coach Tom Reid. “What they were instructed to try to do was to move the ball quickly and get down field quickly.”

  Playing on the attack for majority of the game, Goochland senior Amy Zickefoose abused Bradley, notching three goals from the right side over a 13 minute span to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 halftime lead.

  For the game the ball rarely crossed into Goochland territory.

  Perhaps some measure of Zickefoose’s off-night on offense could come from the astounding 28 saves that Nelson County’s Bradley recorded in the contest.

  “We could have done a lot better, a lot better,” Zickefoose said. “We should have slaughtered them a lot worse.”

  The second half was barely four minutes old before Goochland sophomore Megan DuLong sent a header into the goal for a 5-0 lead.

  But the unsung hero of the evening was senor forward Andrea Odemark. Though a regular scorer throughout the season, Odemark only managed a single goal against Nelson County. However, she made up for lack of scoring by constantly maneuvering the ball into the corner to pass it out to open players.

  “That’s the goal we have,” she said. “Then of course, getting the ball in the net. We try to work together so the whole team can participate.”

  Midway through the second half Zickefoose took a tumble that at first looked serious. While going after the ball, she was undercut, spun through the air and landed on her right shoulder. Cringing in pain, Zickefoose climbed back to her feet and remained on the field during the ensuing penalty kick from Annelle Cleveland that put Goochland up 7-0.

  Following the contest, Zickefoose shrugged off the injury. “It’s a little sore but I’ll be all right,” she said.

  According to Reid, the reaction was typical of his feisty senior. “You can knock her down but she’s going to get up,” he said.

  Nelson County’s Brianna Ross added two late goals against the Goochland subs to create the final score.

  Reid feels that the team is near where it needs to be to continue to advance. “We could do a little better passing,” he said. “I’m always pleased if we execute well.”

  Odemark agreed. “If we keep up the good work and work as a team and continue what we did good this game, we should have a good chance of winning the next one.”

  Goochland advanced to the semifinals of regional play on Wednesday and traveled to Riverheads.

  If the Bulldogs win, they will return home on Friday to play the regional championship match on their home field.

Nelson County ……… 0 2 – 2
Goochland …………..  4 3 – 7
NC: Ross 2; G: Zickefoose 3, Odemark, DuLong, Cleveland, Donavan.
Saves: Bradley (NC) 28; Richardson (G) 5, Stratton (G) 1, Jackson (G) 2.
Records: Nelson County n/a; Goochland 10-4.