By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Editor
Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area
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An air horn blared, followed by screams and flying equipment. That’s when the 25-player, 80-yard dash began.
Robinson junior goalkeeper Kelsey Zinck clung to sophomore Amanda Lloyd, awaiting the stampede of jubilant Rams, which was bearing down on the hopping, hugging duo.
Among the fleet was Concorde District Player of the Year, senior Megan Dunleavy.
And trailing, shrugging off her own handful of screeching teammates was junior Rachel Moody, who scored the game-winning goal with 1 minute, 40 seconds remaining.
The chase culminated and unbridled euphoria ensued, as Robinson, which scored the final three goals on Friday, handed No. 4 Chantilly its first loss of the season, 9-8, and capture the Concorde District championship.
“Honestly, you’re not thinking about getting hurt, you’re not thinking about getting trampled,” said Zinck (14 saves), an honorable mention all-district goalie. “It’s just the best feeling seeing your teammates run out to you, knowing you helped every person on the sidelines, every person on the field and helped make a difference.
“Coach [Alison Neun] had talked to me through visualization and going out, having no fear and being confident. I just tried to use that tonight in our game.”
Coach Neun also talked the team through the game’s final moments. After a goal by Chantilly freshman Kylie Chaplin put the Chargers ahead, 8-6, Neun called a timeout with 6:46 left in the second half.
Whatever she told the cluster of Rams in that minute, it paid dividends. Robinson outscored the defending Virginia AAA State runners-up 3-0 the rest of the way.
“When we brought it in, we were really trying to focus on staying calm in high-intensity situations,” said Neun, whose team lost to Chantilly, 12-5, on March 23. “We brought it in and I kind of yelled at them a little bit, told them I was disappointed in how they were playing and now you guys have to go out with fire.
“When I looked in their faces, you could see in their eyes that they were mad and they wanted to go back out and pick it up.”
The Rams didn’t equalize until senior Samantha Barber beat Charger first-team all-district goalkeeper Heather Meraw (eight saves) on a goal assisted by Moody with 2:21 showing on the game clock. But it took only 41 seconds for Moody to prevent overtime.
The first-team all-district attacker was isolated on her marker atop the area, drove directly at the cage — doing a half-spin to both her left and right side — before she threaded a waist-high shot into the left side of the net.
“I feel like anyone on our team could have had that shot,” said Moody, who had three goals and an assist — all after halftime. “I was just set up perfectly. I just faked left, faked right and I saw net, so I shot it.
“I was so — not even happy — relieved. It’s like relief for the first second and then we know there was still 1:40 left. Obviously, they can score a couple goals in 1:40. We knew we had to get the draw and get the ball back, and that’s what we did.”
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Robinson (12-3) 3 6 — 9
No. 8 Chantilly (15-1) 4 4 — 8
Goals:
RB – Rachel Moody (3), Samantha Barber, Victoria Barron, Abigail Eastman, Megan Dunleavy, Katie McHugh, Sarah Moody.
CH – Brittany Griel (2), Katie Stillwell (2), Kylie Chaplin, Jessica Dennis, Liz Dunwoody, Kacey Norwood, Erin Robertson.
Assists:
RB – Victoria Barron, Rachel Moody, Sarah Moody, Christina Peck.
CH – Brittany Griel.
Goals (Time Left in Half) — Score
1st Half
WF – Sarah Moody (21:47) — 0-1
CH – Brittany Griel (18:11) — 1-0
WF – Katie McHugh (15:04) — 1-2
CH – Liz Dunwoody (12:03) — 2-2
WF – Abigail Eastman (10:14) — 2-3
CH – Katie Stillwell (7:06) — 3-3
CH – Katie Stillwell (6:06) — 4-3
2nd Half
RB – Rachel Moody (23:43)– 4-4
RB – Rachel Moody (20:44) — 4-5
CH – Brittany Griel (13:18) — 5-5
RB – Megan Dunleavy (10:49) — 5-6
CH – Erin Robertson (10:17) — 6-6
CH – Kacey Norwood (7:58) — 7-6
CH – Kylie Chaplin (6:46) — 8-6
RB – Victoria Barron (5:30) — 8-7
RB – Samantha Barber (2:21) — 8-8
RB – Rachel Moody (1:40) — 8-9
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