First Colonial free kick, Midlothian save during Class 5 girls soccer state semifinal
During a hydration break with 18:50 to play in the first half of Friday’s Class 5 girls soccer state semifinal at Glen Allen High between Region 5C champion Midlothian and Region 5A winner First Colonial, Trojans coach Brandon Flowers had a message for his unbeaten squad.
“Nice job settling in … we’ve got lots of goal celebrations waiting to happen,” Flowers said with Midlo trailing 1-0 after FC senior midfielder Skylar Miller opened the scoring just a few minutes in.
The positive affirmation proved prophetic. Midlo (20-1) responded, twice putting the Patriots under pressure with resilient goals to push Virginia Beach powerhouse FC (18-0-1) to the brink.
But Sydney Miller, Skylar’s twin sister and fellow Tennessee commit, scored two goals, and the Patriots fended off a late Trojans push to win 3-2 and advance to Saturday’s Class 5 championship at 10 a.m. at J.R. Tucker High.
“It’s an unbelievable group of kids, from the freshmen to the seniors,” said Flowers, at the conclusion of his third year leading the program.
“The girls are absolute winners, they’re going to compete. There was no denying we were in that match and going to have an opportunity to equalize and try to go up. Respect to First Colonial, they continued to push, they have some fantastic soccer players that gave us a lot of trouble.”
First Colonial corner, shot on goal during girls soccer state semifinal win over Midlothian
Midlo equalized just seconds out of the stoppage. Sophomore center back Alex Miller took a free kick about halfway between the center circle and 18-yard box.
Miller’s ball meandered its way through bodies and into the box, where senior Alexis Dinora pounced to send a headed effort goalward.
Dinora’s header clanked off the post. But junior Keelyn Eslinger, whom Flowers described as a “wrecking ball” in the box, jumped on the rebound and slotted home for 1-1.
“She never quits, she just finds a way to will the ball into the goal, I’m so happy for and proud of her in that moment,” Flowers said of Eslinger.
Working as a tandem up front, seniors Layla Royster and Megan Dwyer put plenty of pressure on the FC back line as the game wore on.
Dwyer, the Region 5C player of the year and an Elon recruit, said her Trojans felt like this was their year to go the distance and win a state title.
“It’s hard for us, we knew this was our season, but next year there’s going to be a lot of talent and they’ll have it,” Dwyer said. “But it’s hard because we’ve had a really good four years. It was upsetting to lose because we made it so far.”
Midlothian’s Alexis Dinora scores during second half of Class 5 girls soccer semifinal loss to First Colonial
Flowers called the Miller twins “unbelievable” and said they were at the top of the scouting report.
A pair of diminutive (5-foot-1) dynamos in the center of the pitch that could be mistaken for the same person were it not for their Nos. 5 and 11, they controlled much of the game via deft one-touch passing, savvy controls and elusive changes of pace on the ball.
Sydney Miller restored FC’s lead at 2-1 with about 12:30 to play in the first half, finishing with the outside of her foot past an onrushing keeper to cap a stellar individual effort in which she dribbled past much of the Midlo back line.
With 29:56 to play in the second half, Sydney Miller got her second goal with a simple finish off a loose ball resulting from a scrum in the box. That brought the tally to 3-1 and took the air out of the game as the Patriots worked to kill the clock and control tempo.
But the Trojans had a rally in them still. With 10:10 to play, Dinora raced down the right wing, found space and sent what initially looked like a cross into the box.
But her effort sailed over everyone, including the FC keeper, and nestled into the far corner of the net for 3-2.
The pink Midlo sideline exploded as a hush went over the blue FC bench. This was surely more jeopardy than either unbeaten juggernaut had faced all season.
“Chance created by a senior that is not wanting her season to end, she’s trying to will her team across,” Flowers said of Dinora. “I’m very happy for and proud of her in that moment.”
Dinora’s goal made for a tense final 10 minutes. But Miller, Miller and Co. saw the result out to hand the Trojans their only loss of a nonetheless memorable campaign.
Flowers lauded his senior class, from Dwyer to Royster (Mary Washington) and first-team all-region selection Ellanor Searcey, who missed the postseason with a cracked vertebra, for their foundational contributions to the program.
“We knew how to respond, we just ran out of time,” Dwyer said. “I’m proud of us, we did everything we could, we can go out with our heads up because this is the farthest our school’s ever made it. We’re proud.”
Richmond’s Kameron Simmonds celebrates with fans after the Ivy were victorious in their franchise debut on May 11. Fans of various ages, from children to adults, waited at the southeast corner of City Stadium after the conclusion of the team’s inaugural USL W League match, seeking signatures from members of the River City’s first pre-professional women’s soccer team since 2009.
Richmond Ivy’s Kanna Matsuhisa (5) dribbles the ball during their inaugural game against the Virginia Marauders at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. May 11.
Richmond Ivy’s Kanna Matsuhisa (5) kicks the ball during their inaugural game against the Virginia Marauders at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. May 11.
Richmond Ivy’s Kanna Matsuhisa (5) dribbles the ball against the Virginia Marauders during their inaugural game at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. May 11.
Richmond Ivy’s Kameron Simmonds (9) dribbles the ball during their inaugural game against the Virginia Marauders at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. May 11.
Fans celebrate the Richmond Ivy’s goal in their inaugural game against the Virginia Marauders at City Stadium on May 11. The match was sold out hours prior to kickoff.
Richmond Ivy’s Kameron Simmonds (9) dribbles the ball during their inaugural game against the Virginia Marauders at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. May 11.
Richmond Ivy’s Kameron Simmonds (9) high fives fans after winning their inaugural game against the Virginia Marauders at City Stadium in Richmond, Va. May 11.
Ivy player Kameron Simmonds signs a young fan’s sock on May 11. On that night, the new franchise eclipsed the merchandise sales produced by any Richmond Kickers game.
Zach Joachim (804) 649-6555
zjoachim@timesdispatch.com
FIRST COLONIAL 3,
MIDLOTHIAN 2
Class 5 girls soccer semifinals
Deputy Sports Editor
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First Colonial free kick, Midlothian save during Class 5 girls soccer state semifinal
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