Falcons soar to VISAA Division II state semifinals
A third quarter goal sealed the deal, a cherry on top for Fredericksburg Academy as it advanced to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division II state field hockey quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory over visiting Trinity Christian on Tuesday.
As Fredericksburg Academy headed to the bench following the first quarter, head coach Karen Moschetto addressed intensity above anything.
Despite a 1-0 lead thanks to sophomore Taylor Moss off a penalty corner, Moschetto wanted more out of her team and immediately, the Falcons responded in the second.
Another goal put them up two goals over Trinity Christian going into halftime, and behind potent and consistent offensive pressure, the Gryphons were put on their toes all afternoon.
"As much as we dominated, I thought we started slow," Moschetto said. "We weren't moving as well off the ball. We were waiting a lot for passes to come. We made an adjustment going into the second and I was much more pleased with what I saw."
The Gryphons were a familiar opponent for the Falcons (11-2-1), having played them twice previously in the regular season.
Both times, things ended in a Fredericksburg Academy victory, including a 2-1 overtime win in early September. Despite that, heading into the state tournament, everything started anew.
"It's states," Moschetto said. "We were coming in with a clean slate and you have to forget that you've beaten them previously this season."
That intensity really made a difference for the rest of the game, a game that the Falcons dominated in all facets offensively, controlling possession from the start and overwhelming Trinity Christian with shots and penalty corners for 60 minutes straight.
This team rolled into the state playoffs as the No. 2 seed, doing so with a youthful explosion of talent, something that was on full display on Tuesday.
Moss scored the Falcons' first two goals of the game while freshman teammate Charlotte Kolodgie slotted home the third and final goal in the win.
"It was about us keeping up the intensity and grit during the game, even when we started out slow, switching the mindset to playing 110 percent if we want to make it to Saturday," Moss said. "... It's so much fun knowing we have so much time since we're such a young team."
Saturday represents the date of the state final, a date circled in the calendars of every player on Fredericksburg Academy since the start of the season.
Tuesday's win put them one step closer toward reaching that mark as the Falcons are set to play The Covenant in Thursday's semifinal matchup.
The two faced off once prior this season as Fredericksburg Academy pulled out a 2-1 win, and this team will look to do the same later this week.
"It's exciting and rewarding knowing our season isn't over today," Moss said. "... We have to go go out and give it our all, all game."
Alex Murphy
on X
Sports reporter
