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Hat trick sparks big Patriots win

By Jennifer L. Williams
jwilliams@dailypress.com | 247-4644

NEWPORT NEWS — Denbigh took sole possession of second place in the Peninsula District girls soccer race Tuesday, edging out host Menchville 3-2.
Each team had lost to first-place Gloucester, which is unbeaten in the district, and Tuesday’s game most likely decided the other team that will receive a quarterfinal bye in next week’s district tournament.

Last season, Denbigh’s tie for second place in the Peninsula District was its best finish in girls soccer. This time the Patriots (10-3-1, 7-1 PD) are trying to take another step.

"I’m thrilled," Denbigh coach Ashley Via said. "I’m very proud of these girls. They’ve worked very hard all season, so it’s nice to see them come together."

Denbigh was missing a starter as defender Emily LaFountain recently tore her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Danielle Gunderson’s shot through the air from 18 yards out struck net 14 minutes into the game. With seven minutes left in the first half, she took a pass from Sarah Manoso and chipped it right-to-left to make it 2-0.

Ten minutes into the second half, Menchville (8-6, 6-2) started to answer back. Marcella Doreste played a ball in from the right side, and Meredith McDowell got a foot on it before teammate Jordan Snider knocked it into the goal.

With 21 minutes left, Gunderson stretched Denbigh’s lead to 3-1 and completed the hat trick on a turn-and-shoot play off an assist from Brittany Starek. Six minutes later, Snider scored on a header off a McDowell corner to make it 3-2.

"My team stepped it up," Gunderson said. "After coming off a loss to Gloucester, we kept up our excitedness and our aggressiveness on the field. And I think that’s how we came away with a win today — everyone working well together and everyone getting stuck in.

"The goals — it wasn’t just me. The whole team worked together to get those goals."

Physicality in the midfield characterized the majority of play, and Denbigh goalkeeper Caitlyn Geisman had a sore jaw afterward to prove plenty was going on in front of her goal as well.

"They wanted the ball more than we did at times," Menchville coach Dave Giunti said. "For the most part, I thought we outplayed them as far as possession. But they got the goals they needed. We didn’t."

DENBIGH 3, MENCHVILLE 2

Halftime — Denbigh 2-0. Goals — Denbigh, Gunderson 3; Menchville, Snider 2. Assists — Denbigh, Manoso, Starek; Menchville, McDowell 2. Shots — Denbigh 16, Menchville 14. Saves — Denbigh, Geisman 9; Menchville, Schaffer 7. Records — Denbigh 10-3-1, 7-1 Peninsula District; Menchville 8-6, 6-2.