Boys fall twice, rally to win one

The Orange County High School varsity boys soccer team traveled to face a feisty Louisa Lions squad last Thursday in a crucial battle in the Jefferson District. The tough game had to be decided by overtime as the Lions roared ahead in the final seconds to seal the 3-2 victory.
The first half started off with a quick strike from Louisa about 40 seconds in that shocked the Hornets. After this relapse, Orange countered with a goal of their own when senior Campbell Hancock found sophomore Danny Goodsell for the equalizer.
The teams battled the rest of the half, but neither could score and the half ended tied at 1-1.
In the second half, the tempo picked up for the Hornets who controlled the game much of the time. They turned their possession into a second score when senior Josh Pugh passed it across to Goodsell for the score, 2-1.
With 10 minutes left, the Lions made a push and scored to tie the game up at 2-2. Neither team could prevent overtime, and the game was to be decided in an extra period.
The Hornets continued to battle, but a deep run by the Lions finished, off with a rip to the top corner, ended the Hornets chances and Orange fell in a tight battle 3-2.
 Over the weekend Orange traveled to Charlottesville to play the Black Knights in a match rescheduled due to previous inclement weather. With the match scheduled Saturday, the Hornets were short eight players and fell to the Black Knights 1-0.
The first half included a bit of damage control for the Hornets, who packed it in with pressure defense. The Hornets only had one legitimate scoring chance but were stopped by a sliding defender and the half ended with the score still 0-0.
Charlottesville capitalized with a depleted Orange roster in the second to score their one and only goal.
"Our team played their hearts out, but as the game wore on, Charlottesville took advantage of the lack of energy" said Orange head coach Dwane Pugh. 
After two tough losses, the Hornets would rally in the team's last home game Monday and be fueled by the senior night energy. With 12 seniors on the Hornet roster the team would respond to potentially their last home game with 3-2 victory over William Monroe.
With emotions running high in the first, some nerves got the best of the Hornets. The ball skirted across the middle and sophomore Adam Weisenborn drilled it home to give the Dragons the lead. However, the Hornets quickly responded when senior Eric Wilkening drilled a cross that deflected off a defender and into the goal to tie it up at 1-1.
Again the Dragons countered with another goal when Weisenborn headed it over the Hornet keeper.
Late in the half, Orange would tie it up with senior Troy Johnson scoring on a corner kick.
"After the Greene goals the team responded very well to tie it up both times, I was very proud of them," coach Pugh said.
The half ended with the two teams knotted at 2-2.
The second half was filled with less offense, but more hustle as both teams tried to fight for the edge. Midway through the half, Goodsell gave the Hornets the lead for good off a pass from senior Ryan Jenkins.
The Hornets (9-4-1, 7-4-1) visit Fluvanna Thursday and Western Albemarle Monday and prepare for the Jefferson District Tournament later next week.