WINCHESTER — In theory, both teams should have an equal chance of being successful when a soccer game enters overtime.
But it’s getting to the point where James Wood High School might need to put up a “beware of overtime” sign outside Kelican Stadium for visitors to see once the postseason starts. You’d be hard-pressed to find anything more dangerous than the Colonels’ girls’ soccer team when 80 minutes are up in the playoffs.
James Wood’s senior class improved to 4-0 in home overtime playoff games — including 3-0 in the regional semifinal round — with a 3-2 win over Charlottesville in Monday night’s Region 4D semifinals. The Colonels erased two one-goal deficits.
Back in 2023, McKenna Newcome scored in regular overtime and Maddie Shirley scored in sudden death overtime in a Region 4C semifinal win over Broad Run. In 2024, Jasmine Hackman scored off an Avery Wright assist in a regular overtime win over Orange County in the Region 4D semifinals.
On Monday night, it was Wright feeding McKenna’s younger sister DeLaney for the game-winning goal 90 seconds into overtime for North No. 1 seed James Wood (14-3-1) against North No. 3 Charlottesville (11-5-1). A junior, Newcome’s first goal of the game tied the score 2-2 seven minutes into the second half.
James Wood coach Donavan Russell noted after Friday’s Region 4D quarterfinal how many special playoff memories the Colonels have created at Kelican Stadium, particularly in 2024 when James Wood advanced to the Class 4 state title game.
Monday’s win clinched the Colonels’ third state berth in four years and first in two seasons, and James Wood will get a chance to keep the home vibes rolling when it takes on South No. 2 Blacksburg (13-2-2) in the Region 4D championship game at 6:30 p.m.on Wednesday. The Bruins beat South No. 4 Salem 6-3 on Monday.
“I’m definitely feeling it now,” said Newcome when she and Wright were asked if they were getting similar feelings to 2024.
The strong bond between Wright (16 goals, 16 assists) and Newcome (10 goals, eight assists) — the team’s top two players in those categories — quickly put James Wood in the driver’s seat in the 10-minute extra session.
Wright — who set up every Colonels goal on Monday with her passes — listened to Newcome’s voice, played a leading ball left to right, and Newcome scored from close range.
“Del and I love to connect together. It’s like the best feeling,” said Wright, who had to pause to control her emotions. “We just work together, and we know we’re always going to back each other up. It’s really fun to just communicate.
“She was screaming, ‘Avery! Avery!’ [At that point], I know she’s going to put it in, and I know I have to get it to her. Our confidence in each other, it really boosts us and leads us to scoring goals.”
Newcome noted she was wide open as she neared the goal, which is why she called out so strongly to Wright.
“Once [the ball] was there, I saw [Knights keeper Maddy Alimard] coming, and I knew I had to go low because she was coming high,” Newcome said. “I just tried to drive it in the corner.”
The Black Knights had a couple good looks at the goal after that, but both shots were from long range and neither came close to going on frame against James Wood goalkeeper Alaynah McGuire (four saves}.
Charlottesville played the last four minutes of regulation and overtime without sophomore Juliana Pierce — who scored both goals for the Knights — due to a migraine, according to head coach Todd Wielar. Charlottesville — which was outshot 15-12 — also played without a starting center back for almost the entire game due to an injury.
Newcome’s overtime goal came a lot easier than her first one.
Wright also played the ball left to right inside the box in the 47th minute. Newcome faced resistance from from a Black Knights defender but did push the ball forward toward goal. She said Alimard (seven saves) then got her hands on the ball but couldn’t hold on to it.
“There was another girl on the ground,” Newcome said. “It came out of there, and I just kept going.”
James Wood coach Donavan Russell isn’t surprised by anything that Wright and Newcome do at this point.
“They have come up big time and time again,” Russell said.
Newcome’s first goal came two minutes after Pierce put Charlottesville up 2-1 with a shot from inside the 18 on the right side. Earlier, Aubrie Darnall had her second header goal in two games when she forcefully redirected a Wright corner kick toward goal in the 23rd minute to make it 1-1. Pierce scored from close range in the ninth minute on a shot that snuck inside the right near post.
“We had a couple of marking errors inside the box, and they made us pay,” Wielar said. “That’s soccer. They took advantage of their opportunities, and we left a few on the table.
“It was a great season. I know it’s hard for everyone in the moment to see that, but it’s the best season we’ve had in years. The most district wins we’ve had since 2019. I’m very proud of the girls and the work they’ve put in.”
Overall, Russell felt there was a lot to like about how James Wood played.
“I thought it was one of our best-played games as far as our passing, our movement,” Russell said. “Communication was good.
“That first goal was unfortunate. In a game like this, those kind of goals can mean something. And it did, it sent us into overtime. But I love the response. It never felt like our girls were out of it. Their emotions, their play — it never really seemed like they were down. They had lots of opportunities and lots of time on the ball. I was impressed with how they kept their winning mentality going.”
Russell is looking forward to another home game on Wednesday.
“The kind of experience we have here, it’s just such a huge advantage,” Russell said. “For us to be here on our field with our fans who were incredible tonight, it’s an advantage that I think calms the nerves some. I think the girls are excited to keep soccer going here in the area.”
— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com
Follow on X @WinStarSports1