Jersey swap helps Warriors win title

Western Albemarle’s Stephanie Warren doesn’t pile up many points, but the senior has been a force on draw controls and ground balls all year.
“It’s ground balls and draw controls that give you those second opportunities,” said Western head coach Nancy Haws. “She’s one of our unsung heroes because it’s getting those possessions that creates what we are able to do with it afterwards.”
Nothing changed Thursday night as Warren led the Warriors in both categories and Western rolled to a 13-2 victory over Rockbridge County to capture the Jefferson District title.
Western leapt out to an 8-2 halftime lead with Abby Wheeler leading the way. Wheeler had a hat trick before the break and finished with five goals. Mary Schwartz also poured in five goals for the Warriors.
Warren had seven ground balls and four draw controls to go with a pair of assists in the win. The senior is pretty comfortable in her role doing the little things that help make Western successful.
“When I try to shoot, let’s be honest, it doesn’t really go in,” Warren said. “So I just stay away from that.”
Warren also isn’t afraid to look for an edge wherever she can. That’s why she and sophomore Jordan Haws swapped jerseys, with Haws taking Warren’s No. 6 and Warren donning Haws’ No. 17, just minutes before Thursday’s game. Warren wanted a more roomy uniform and Haws wanted to make sure that officials didn’t remember a previous penalty-plagued contest.
“The jerseys are really unflattering and [No.] 1-10 are too small, so I jumped at the chance to get [Haws’] medium because she’s small, she can handle it,” Warren said. “We also wanted to trick the [officials] a little. The officiating was great, though.”
Nancy Haws thinks it paid off in Western’s decisive advantage on the draw though more than anything else.
“Jordan needed to get a little bit of Stephanie’s karma by wearing [Warren’s] jersey,” Haws said. “[Jordan] had more draw controls than she’s ever had — and fewer fouls.”
Colleen Cozart had nine saves in the cage to hold Rockbridge in check throughout.
Western played without the services of two starters in Ally Swanson and Bridgett Lynn, both of whom were sidelined with injuries. That forced Haws to rearrange the lineup, creating changes on each level.
Western will try and keep its postseason run going on Monday when the Warriors host the region semifinals at 5 p.m.