Fredericksburg, VA (June 11, 2022) - The only blemishes to the Dominion Titans' season were two early losses to Class 6 opponents Yorktown and Langley. Beyond that, they won everything, often scoring nineteen goals per game and giving up fewer than three. Their Region C win over Meridian was not easy, but perhaps that was a good test for the championship match. As reigning state champion, they had an irreplaceable confidence about their chances.
The Western Albemarle Warriors' overall record was nearly the same as Dominion. Going 16-3, they even had a similar goals per game average. But their Region D and state tournament games had been a consistent challenge and included a narrow, one-goal win over Rockbridge County in the state semifinal.
Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.
Dominion bolted into the lead with three quick goals from Jamie Lee, Lindsey Wright, and Molly Battaglia. By the time Reeve Goldstein tallied for Western Albemarle in the 12th minute, the Titans had a lead that they would never relinquish, building that margin up to ten late in the game and confidently and easily cruising to a third straight state championship.
The Warriors had a solid game, but the Titans owned it. Dominion controlled the pace from beginning to end, speeding up and slowing down at will. Their attack was concise and efficient, and their defense was nearly flawless.
Lee led the Titan attack with four goals, but her biggest impact came from her pinpoint passes to cutters who knifed into the interior of the Western defense for repeated point-blank shots for goals.
To their credit the Warriors surged midway through the second half scoring four goals--including two from Mallory Green--in just over seven minutes. But that surge was dampened when the Titans scored four unanswered goals in the final few minutes of the half.
The game ended with Dominion goalie Caelan Jones circling her net to run out the remaining time and start the championship celebration.
Final Score: Dominion 16 -Western Albemarle 7
