Raiders raise Region 2C trophy, look forward to state playoffs

If the Appomattox Raiders girls soccer team had any doubters going into Friday evening's Region 2C Championship, the team erased those doubts with a 4-2 victory over the Glenvar Highlanders, who entered the game with a 16-2 record.

The undefeated Raiders, at 15-0, have exceeded the expectations of many outside observers in 2023 after coming off a 10-7-1 record in 2022. With three Dogwood District teams not fielding a girls soccer squad in 2023 (William Campbell, Gretna, Galileo), the Raiders only played 12 regular season games, leaving them six games short of a full schedule's worth of experience.

Appomattox has risen to meet every challenge this year, including wins over Class 4 schools Halifax and Mecklenburg County. Defeating Glenvar in the Region 2C final -- in temperatures that hovered near 90 degrees at game time a day after winning a regional quarterfinal over Chatham -- again proved the true metal the Raiders are made of with the Class 2 state tournament looming.

Lyndsey Lawson scored all four goals for Appomattox against the Highlanders on assists from Catey Paulette. Three goals came in the first half, and one early in the second half.

Glenvar made a late-game push with two goals, a short kick by top scorer Giuliana Stanley and a header by Campbell Harden. Both scores came off of corner kicks.

Time was kept by on-field officials for the majority of the game because the scoreboard malfunctioned early in the first half.

Lawson said the Raiders knew Glenvar was going to be a difficult opponent to face but that that winning Region 2C in her senior season is an "amazing" feeling.

Paulette and Lawson's have been a dynamite duo and a nightmare for opposing defenses, with Lawson and her cannon leg often the beneficiary of Paulette's fancy footwork and precision passing.

Paulette echoed Lawson's sentiments on winning the championship and complimented her dominant performance.

"It feels amazing because we all worked really, really, really, really hard, and Lyndsey finished every single ball that was given to her and didn't make any mistakes," Paulette said.

The Raider defense was able to contain Stanley for much of the game and come up with some vital stops near the goal to help out goalie Morgan Doss, especially late in the second half when the Highlanders gained more ball possession time during their rally attempt.

Appomattox earned its first state playoff appearance since 2018 with Thursday's win over Chatham. The 2C championship earned them a home matchup in the quarterfinal round Tuesday against Central-Wise at 6 p.m.

Head coach Clint Melton is glad to get back to the state playoffs after a five-year drought.

"It's awesome. I can't even describe the feeling, to be honest," he said. "These girls believed in themselves the whole time, and I told them it was gonna be a total team effort...I'm so proud of the way they played..."

Two facets of play Melton said will improve the team's chances in state competition are committing less penalties and giving up corner kicks, both of which occurred against Glenvar.

Find out more in the upcoming issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to view the full article in the e-edition version.

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