BOX SCORE
Doug Ripley - May 18, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH - Will Martin went back to his postseason roots in Monday's Beach District Tournament quarterfinal at Cox High School... scoring good goals.
The senior captain logged two goals and added an assist as Cox broke open a back-and-forth match with Kempsville just enough to walk away a 4-2 victor. The Falcons (15-1-1) next draw Ocean Lakes, a 2-1 winner over Princess Anne, in Tuesday's opening semifinal match (7:15pm at Ocean Lakes HS).
The Falcons out-shot 24-13 without the services of junior captain and leading scorer Ryan Oakes who is fighting a minor illness and is expected to return before next week's Eastern Region Tournament.
Cox drew first blood in the 13th minute when Martin accepted a pass deep in Chief territory, made a touch to clear an oncoming defender, and slid it home from the left corner of the six yard box.
The Chiefs (3-12-2) drew even 2:05 later when Denny Arinello took a loose ball from the Cox defense and proceeded to out-manuever goalkeeper Jon Harris.
Martin would put Cox back in front in the 24th minute when sophomore midfielder Eric Bird slid a ball through the middle of the box to him from the left where he tapped it past reserve Kempsville keeper Jeremy Hutton.
Once again, Kempsville was quick to answer. Jonathan Bender took advantage of a sagging Cox defense in the 29th minute by driving home a short right side cross from Alex Vaughan which started as a result of a Kempsville free kick.
That would prove to be the Chiefs final strike of their 2009 season. Cox took the lead for good during the final moments of a high-scoring half as sophomores Chris Albiston (defender) and Bird hooked up for the match winner. Albiston juked a Kempsville defender and slid a ball quickly through traffic to Bird who was nearly uncontested for the goal.
While the second half featured less fireworks on the scoreboard, things were tight between two teams looking to improve their defense while getting that one goal that changes the complexion of the match.
The home side would get that goal and some much needed insurance in the 61st minute. Martin found Chris Albiston with a through ball up the left side of the attacking-third. Albiston would pick up his third goal of the season on the ensuing touch, rolling the ball gently inside the far right post.
Harris earned the victory in goal with four saves, while Kempsville freshman Jason Kaplan was yanked out of goal in the 18th minute after his team leveled the match at one. Hutton would get three saves in a losing effort for Kempsville.
The Cox boys and girls soccer teams avoided the upset on Quarterfinal Monday which was almost a regularity at the two other sites who played. Both 7-seeds advanced in their matches at Ocean Lakes, dealing girls co-champion Ocean Lakes and boys #2 First Colonial fatal blows to otherwise impressive campaigns. The Kellam girls also fell victim to a higher seeded team Monday, losing at home to Princess Anne.
The Kempsville quarterfinal pod will play Tuesday night as field conditions were too wet for competition. The Kempsville girls face Landstown at 5:15pm while the Kellam boys take on Salem at 7:15pm with the winners playing the following evening at Ocean Lakes.