WINCHESTER — With a few minutes remaining, anyone near the James Wood girls’ soccer team’s sideline could hear just how angry Colonels’ coach Donovan Russell was about his team not being awarded a penalty kick.
The reason for his dismay? He saw senior midfielder Mary Kimble’s chance to make something happen inside the 18 denied after being knocked to the ground.
One of the smallest players on the field, Kimble was none too happy about it either. But ultimately, she created the biggest noise of all without saying a word.
Kimble ripped a shot inside the 18 after beating three defenders with her dribbling in tight space in the last minute of the game to give James Wood a 2-1 win over Frederick County rival Millbrook on a rainy Monday night at the Colonels’ Kelican Stadium.
Monday’s win gave James Wood (10-3-2) — which had to rally from a 1-0 deficit in the second half — a season sweep of the Pioneers (2-11) and an important victory in the crowded push for the Region 4D North top seed. The Colonels are averaging 2.13 points per game after their fourth straight win, just behind Handley (10-3-1, 2.21 ppg) and Sherando (10-4, 2.14) and tied with Orange County (10-3-2). The Colonels will host Sherando on Thursday and Handley next Tuesday.
After taking a pass from DeLaney Newcome, Kimble wanted to finish the opportunity she felt the Colonels were denied just a couple of minutes earlier when she went to the ground.
“The call didn’t really go my way, and I was a little frustrated,” Kimble said. “I knew I just wanted to win the ball back. I think that really just helped me push through to the goal and put it in the back of the net.”
The instincts and vision born out of practice drills also made a difference with Kimble as she was surrounded by Millbrook players.
“I honestly was just looking down at people’s feet, just kind of trying to dodge them like cones,” Kimble said. “I was just trying to get to the goal as soon as I could.”
With Kimble on the right side of the field, she ripped a low shot that snuck inside the near right post, which the third of Millbrook’s goalkeepers on Monday couldn’t stop. Russell was plenty impressed.
“Mary had been running a lot, she was tired, and we put her back in, and it was getting late,” Russell said. “She got trucked, and then came back and dribbled three girls and somehow stayed with the ball, and it stayed on her foot and just put a great left-footed shot low post.
“At this point in the year, you start to expect seniors to step up and do something, and Mary’s always been great at doing that for us. It was an incredible play and incredible moment.”
One that Kimble won’t forget. She had a huge smile on her face as her teammates rushed to congratulate her, and it stayed there as she made her way back to the Colonels’ side of the field.
“It was definitely the best feeling,” Kimble said. “I just love having all your teammates coming around and cheer around you.”
The Colonels had to work to make that moment happen. The game was scoreless at the half, with James Wood holding a 6-2 corner kick edge and the Pioneers — four days removed from a 2-1 win over Sherando — holding a 3-2 corner kick edge.
Following a foul, Molly Ludwig scored on a penalty kick in the 53rd minute to put the Pioneers up 1-0. The scored appeared to ignite a James Wood team that beat Millbrook 4-0 on April 1.
“That was a moment where we had to really mentally turn it on and be like, ‘Ok, let’s go, we need to get this win to progress through the season. We just need to work together and continue to push,'” James Wood defender Avery Wright said.
A corner kick by Wright seven minutes later helped level the match. Wright’s as good as they come in the area with placement on set pieces, and she played a dangerous ball into the heart of the penalty area.
Eva Demattei sent a shot toward goal that Millbrook goalkeeper Madeline Espinoza did well to punch away. But the rebound went to Wood leading scorer Maddie Shirley (21 goals), and she fired the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
James Wood would continue to be stronger in the run of play from there. The Colonels outshot the Pioneers 8-1 in the final 25 minutes and had a 4-0 corner kick edge.
“Props to Millbrook,” Russell said. “They showed up tonight ready to play the game. They were going to beat you to the ball, they were going to get there as quick as they could, and they weren’t going to slow down. It’s a great game plan, and they really executed it. But I was really proud of our girls, doing what we’ve been working on the past few weeks and improving on.”
Russell said Monday was difficult because midfielder Grace Rivas Zelaya suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Friday against Warren County, and sophomore defender Karlie Orndorff was also injured in that game. As a result, Russell had to make some lineup changes and have players play more minutes.
“Our girls are really getting into the mode of playing together, flowing together, playing any spot they need to, and moving the ball,” Russelll said. “The communication tonight was fantastic. And really, a big key tonight and for our play the last few games has been Ava Manzo and Sloane Ferrebee in the middle. They have done a lot of work and been 80-minute players. They are really working to get the ball to our wingers.”
Though it was a difficult loss for Millbrook, Monday was another sign that the team is taking solid steps. Millbrook has hung tough with most of it opponents this year.
“Much improved from our last game against them,” Pioneers coach Karlie Hepner said. “[Our players] started strong and they played with intensity. We just need to finish some of our opportunities and be better up the field in transition.
“I’m really proud of this group. We’ve had some adversity and some tough losses, but they’ve kept really positive attitudes, they’re working hard still day in and day out at practice. They’re not giving up and still want to make the most of their season. I think we have truly progressed and gotten better.”
— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com
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