by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi –
Middlesex High School senior Laney Hall had a haul last week as Middlesex beat Lancaster, 5-1, and ushered the Red Devils out of post-season play.
With the Region A quarterfinal win, Middlesex (14-3, 6-0) advanced to a semifinal game against Northampton earlier this week. Washington and Lee played Rappahannock in the other semifinal with both winners playing for the regional championship June 2, at the site of the higher seed.
In the quarterfinal match, Hall had a hat trick, including a penalty kick and a rocket on a fast break from about 20 yards out, to lift the host Chargers to a 3-0 lead at the half.
Lancaster’s only goal came three minutes into the second half when Stewart Hollingsworth scored on one of his two shots for the night, crossing the ball to the right corner of the net from about 15 yards away.
The Chargers Marek Hanscom scored on a pass from Wyatt Evans with 21 minutes to play and Hall capped the scoring with a header on a corner kick at the 16-minute mark in the May 25 matchup.
Keeper Damont Maiden had 13 saves for Lancaster. The Devils’ offense was kept at bay with Hollingsworth leading the shooters with two. Branndonn Wade and Andrew Fulmer took one shot each.
Lancaster went 3-11 during the regular season with one highlight, its first sweep of Northern Neck District rival Northumberland in over four years.
