Enjoying the pitch as long as they could
Don’t know how long they stayed out there. The four of them, their bodies plopped on the warm grass in the goal box. They were there when you left Riverheads. Thought about going back around 9:30 Wednesday night to see if they decided just to camp out.
Nope, don’t know what they were talking about. It was one of those moments you saw out of the corner of your eye amid the sea of red and white (the road reds celebrating for Goochland, the home whites of Riverheads holding moms, dad and boyfriends) that filed through the gate.
Yeah, you stopped. Took a peek when you first saw them running out onto the pitch after losing to the Bulldogs 4-2 in the Region B semifinals. They were spent, they had to be. They looked tired as the final minutes ticked away and crying can take a lot out of you.
But somehow Riverheads seniors Olivia Damico and Kristin Shomo—joined by sophomore Kristen Moody and junior Jenna Arneson—found the strength to hop the fence and run, full sprint, back out on the pitch. They all took turns diving, head first, to the grass and sliding along its slick surface. Getting those jersey’s dirty together, just for one last time.
There they stayed, Moody holding her head up with her hand, body turned sideways toward Shomo, who stayed flat on her back, looking up at the twilight sky that was turning robin-egg blue with a touch of fire red. The azure ridge behind them, the low drone of Interstate 81 a stone’s throw away.
“That’s what makes this so hard,“ said Riverheads girls soccer coach Homes Tehrani. “This is my first group of seniors. The kids who started with me.“
That’s why Tehrani, usually a man that greets you with a smile, win or lose, was fighting back tears. Brianne Bryant, Shomo and her twin sister, Kaitlyn, Lauren Clymore, Dawn Jackson and Damico, not too long ago they were freshman with a first-year coach and a surprise welcome to the regional tournament.
Three years later, with one Region B win under their belts, it was all over.
Don’t know what they said, wish I did. But the four—Moody, Kristin Shomo, Damico and Arneson—were still on the pitch as you drove away.
Wish I would have went back, they were probably still out there until at least 10.
Not wanting to let go.
And another thing: The whole time I’m sitting on the hill in Greenville, watching Holland-exchange student Andrea Odemark give the Gladiator defense fits, I’m getting scores from the Wilson Memorial boys Region B semifinal. And the whole time I’m thinking, man, did Goochland and Clarke County have some sort of gentlemen’s agreement going? Really.
First Wilson and Riverheads knock the two Clarke teams out of the playoffs (sure, we’ll throw Wilson Memorial softball in the mix, which also beat a Clarke team) then Goochland comes up this way and sends both the teams packing. Someone, get answers for me.
Oh well, what you do expect from Goochland, a county named after the always-unseen bully from Diff’rent Strokes. (Really? Come on, you know you remember.) Darn traitors.
Meanwhile, in Augusta County (466.98 miles from Bellarmine University): You have got to give it up for 13-year-old Jessica Miller. She’s a freshman. She plays tennis for Stuarts Draft (did we mention she’s a freshman?) and she came one win away from winning the Region III title and moving on to the Group AA tournament. Did we mention she’s a freshman? Good on her.
Oh yeah, and in Waynesboro (466.98 miles from Bellarmine University): More ups for the Little Giants’ Shawtne Woodson and Kiawna Berry, you know, two pivotal members of that supposed one-girl Waynesboro basketball team. All this tandem did was beat Spotswood’s Kaitlin Halsley and Haley Day 7-5, 7-6(7-4) and advance to the Region III finals. Sure, they lost to Northside’s Ashley Masterson and Rachel Fertitta in the championship, but good on them as well.
Oh, did you notice that? You know, that in tennis the person or team that loses in the regional finals doesn’t move on to states. You know, kind of like all the other sports. Man, inequality stinks, don’t it?
Sigh, don’t worry. Someday these adults in charge of high school sports will get it right.
Quick question: So, does anyone think everyone on the Riverheads girls soccer defense tossed and turned all last night with visions of that pesky No. 7 (Odemark) dancing in their heads?
Another question: So how fired up is Wilson Memorial boys soccer going to be next season? “What I saw was that mentally we weren’t too serious,“ coach Kyle Congleton said after his Hornets’ loss to Goochland. “We looked confused and had a couple of guys out of position.“
So, since they return Josh Miller and a few others, expect the Hornets to be back because now they know (about being mentally serious) and if G.I. Joe taught us anything as children, it’s that knowing is half the battle. (Yo, Joe!)
Reversal of roles is never fun. Just ask Wilson Memorial softball.
But then there was one and tonight we find out if Waynesboro baseball can keep their heads straight and just play baseball. Dangerous team if they play ball, not so dangerous when they open their mouths. Do the math, Little Giants.
Hey, are Shomo, Moody, Damico and Arneson still playing in the grass at Riverheads today? If they are, leave them alone. Let them enjoy the moment for a little while longer.
