2022.11.01 Field Hockey: Liberty @ Loudoun Valley

Purcellville, VA (November 1, 2022) - When you get to a regional tournament, it's often difficult to size up your opponent. Overall records can be very different, and paths to the tournament not alike at all. Tonight's home team, the Loudoun Valley Vikings won the Dulles District regular season and tournament, establishing themselves as the top seed, while their opponent, the Liberty Eagles, had to stun Kettle Run in a consolation game to qualify for their spot. 

The two teams had played early in the season, and the Vikings walked away with a solid 6-0 win. But a lot had happened since then, and anything can happen in the postseason.

Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.

The first quarter was perhaps surprisingly tight. While the Vikings put consistent pressure on the Eagles' cage, Liberty goalie Rohan Mincks was up to the challenge. Her solid defensive backfield of Katie Kotulla, Caitlyn Chaney, and Denali Daymude kept the powerful Valley attack at bay including a brilliant Daymude sweep off the line of a sure Viking goal. 

On the other end of the field, the Valley defense was equally impressive and kept the ball completely away from goalie Addison Miller. Brianna Van, Bella Butler, and Madison Racion kept a higher and unbreakable line, which meant that Liberty failed to register a shot or earn a corner in the entire first half.

With such strong defensive efforts on both sides of the field, it was no shock that the first half ended all tied at 0-0.

With five minutes gone in the third quarter, Liberty earned its first corner of the night, but that was one of the only offensive highlights they would have. The Vikings had already opened the second half with a score from Maddie Barnes, and they would follow that with three more goals in the period. In rapid succession, Hope Losty, Kathryn Clarke, and Barnes (again) gave the Vikings an insurmountable lead, 4-0.

With the game firmly in hand, Valley cruised through the fourth quarter, continuing to put pressure on the Liberty cage, but not scoring again. The Vikings advance to the region championship where they will face second-seeded Fauquier.

Final Score: Loudoun Valley 4 - Liberty 0