With West Potomac in the early stages of a comeback, Yorktown midfielder Hope Barrazotto was equal parts frustrated and determined to regain control for the Patriots — emotions one Wolverine would recognize from the turf at Greenbrier Stadium.
Barrazotto, last season’s National District Player of the Year, barreled over a West Potomac defender before scoring her fourth and final goal of the evening and Yorktown won its season opener 10-6 on March 16. After the play, a fan shouted, "Hope is a woman among girls!"
"I got the draw control and that was [after] they scored a couple times so I was a little angry," Barrazotto said. "I just kind of ran down the field and I guess the girl wasn’t moving her feet — just tried to plant and defend me. I didn’t see her run into me.
"She was just there and then she was on the ground."
Olivia Shipley scored a team-high five goals for Yorktown. Michelle Casteel added one.
"I think we did really well," Barrazotto said. "I think we improved a lot from the scrimmages. … We need to work on groundballs and other basics but, again, it’s only the first game. We have time. … We’ve been out here for a month and to finally do all the stuff in practice and have it pay off in games, it feels good."
The game was Anne Bodnar’s first as head coach of the Yorktown varsity program. She spent five seasons with the JV before taking over as leader of the four-time-defending National District champion Patriots.
"I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out," said Bodnar, who admitted to being nervous before the game. "We haven’t had a whole lot of full-field playing time. …. Hopefully this will boost our confidence a little bit and we’ll be able to keep going on a roll. … I know I have a lot of talent and I know it was just a matter of pulling it all together and working out everybody’s nerves."
Yorktown beat McLean the following night, 10-2. The Patriots led 9-1 at halftime. Barrazotto led Yorktown with four goals. Casteel finished with two goals, and Shipley, Molly Adair, Hannah Madison and Erinn Spack each scored one.
Yorktown travels to face Chantilly at 7:15 p.m. today.