Cox outlasts First Colonial in the 1st round
Field hockey
Quin Braithwaite found the back of the net in the third quarter to lead Cox to a Class 5 Region A quarterfinal victory over First Colonial Monday at the Regional Training Center in Virginia Beach.
In a win-or-go-home setting, First Colonial was a tough firstround matchup for Cox, but the Falcons, who are seeking for a state crown three-peat, proved to be up for the challenge.
In another tough defensive showdown between these two teams, the Falcons, backstopped by junior goaltender Abby Spear, prevailed thanks to some timely saves. Spear earned the shutout with some help from Lauren Boucher, who had a big goal-line stop, and Zella Bailey, who had a save on a corner.
“This was a great defensive challenge for us,” Cox coach Taylor Rountree said. “Unfortunately with the short season, we haven’t had a lot of high-competition teams, so our defense hasn’t been challenged as much as it normally would be in a regular season when we’re scheduling our own games. So this was really good for them to figure it out and figure out our structure moving forward.”
Cox advances to play Maury or Granby in a semifinal Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Regional Training Center. Hickory, which defeated Deep Creek 3-0 in another quarterfinal, will face Gloucester, which had a bye, in another semifinal at 3 p.m.
The Falcons, who defeated First Colonial in a come-frombehind 2-1 victory earlier in the regular season, have had the better of their longtime Beach District rivals over the past few years.
Monday’s quarterfinal victory is the sixth win in a row for Cox versus the Patriots.
Hickory 3, Deep Creek 0
Hope Leftwich finished with a goal and an assist as the Hawks blanked Deep Creek in a Class 5 Region A quarterfinal.
Kyleigh Heath and Piper Reese also scored a goal apiece, while Kellyn McCloud added an assist. Warwick 8, Churchland 0 Chloe Ward put on a dominant performance for the Raiders, scoring six goals to lead Warwick to a Class 4 Region A quarterfinal win over the Truckers.
Ward, a senior, surpassed 100 goals for her career and has netted 29 in seven games so far this season.
Lillian Krikorian and Amiylah Chambers added a goal apiece for Warwick.
Golf
Class 5 Region A
Bayside’s Amber Mackiewicz shot a 2-under-par 69 and teammate Travis Ebert finished a shot behind to lead the Marlins to the team title at Sewells Point Golf Club in Norfolk.
Mackiewicz and Ebert helped Bayside finish at 307, finishing ahead of Cox (318) and Hickory (327). The Marlins earned the region’s only team berth to the state Class 5 tournament at Williamsburg National Golf Club on April 19.
The top five were rounded out by Princess Anne’s Oen Shikimachi (72), Hickory’s Gareth (Ryder (76) and Cox’s Colin Reed and Carly Tucker (77).
Class 4 Region A
Great Bridge’s Trey Marrion torched the course to win medalist honors, and Jamestown carded three scores in the top four to earn the team championship at Williamsburg National Golf Club.
Marrion carded a 6-underpar 66 to win the individual title by five shots over Jamestown’s Hogan Schulze.
Schulze finished at 71 and was followed by teammate Ryan Leach (72). Jamestown’s Whit Coggin and Churchland brothers Matthew McEwen and Jonathan McEwen finished at 74.
Jamestown, winner of the Class 4 state championship in 2018 and 2019, finished with a team total of 292 to earn the region’s only team berth to the state tourney on April 19 at Glenrochie Golf Club in Abingdon. Great Bridge placed second at 308.