CHARLOTTESVILLE 鈥 Most every Blacksburg player on the pitch simply walked toward the sideline after the final whistle sounded late Friday afternoon. Goalkeeper Nathan Pratt put his hands on his knees and unleashed a long exhale.
The Bruins were too exhausted to celebrate at the moment. They needed a few minutes to begin soaking in that the program was heading back to a state championship game.
Craig Huxtable scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 67th minute, as Blacksburg secured a 2-1 win over Monacan in a Class 4 boys soccer semifinal at Monticello High School.
Blacksburg's Craig Huxtable tries to break free toward the net during Friday's Class 4 state semifinal against Monacan at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.
The win puts Blacksburg, the most decorated boys soccer program in VHSL history, in the state championship game for the first time since it won its record 13th title in 2018.
鈥淚t鈥檚 euphoric to finally get back in a state championship,鈥 Huxtable said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been in one, haven鈥檛 been close 鈥 but this feels great.
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The Bruins (19-2) will take on Jamestown at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Monticello.
The Eagles (17-2-1) defeated Charlottesville 2-0 in Friday鈥檚 first semifinal contest.
鈥淛amestown, they鈥檙e a great team,鈥 Huxtable said. 鈥淥ne of my friends, Max Cooper, he鈥檚 a great player, but I know they鈥檙e a solid team, so we鈥檙e going to have to play good.鈥
Blacksburg and Jamestown are meeting in the state championship game for the second time. The Eagles defeated the Bruins 5-0 in the 2001 Group AA title game that snapped Blacksburg鈥檚 string of three straight titles.
Blacksburg won the following year for four titles in a five-year span.
鈥淚t feels great and I鈥檓 so happy for these guys that we have a chance,鈥 Blacksburg coach Shelley Blumenthal said. 鈥淲e have an incredibly talented opponent that we鈥檙e going against tomorrow in Jamestown. Obviously, they showed that today beating an incredible Charlottesville team 2-0. We have our work cut out for us, but we鈥檙e excited to be here and it鈥檚 an opportunity.鈥
Blacksburg's Brendan Osebre runs toward a ball during Friday's Class 4 state semifinal against Monacan at Monticello High School in Blacksburg.
Huxtable and his Blacksburg teammates were exhausted after playing a Monacan team that was attempting to reach the state title game for the first time.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got just a lot of veteran players, a lot of all-region selections, they鈥檝e been our heart,鈥 Monacan coach Colt Resnick said. 鈥淏ut like I鈥檝e said in previous weeks, it takes all 18, 19 guys to get the job done. They push each other in practice.鈥
The Chiefs (16-5-1) were able to withstand the Bruins鈥 scoring chances in the first 60 minutes, but Blacksburg was able to pounce when Pee Wee Distler headed the ball across the box to Huxtable, who headed it by Monacan goalkeeper Cam Vester in the 61st minute for a 1-0 lead.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done countless practices on set pieces and especially throw-ins. It felt second nature,鈥 Huxtable said.
The lead lasted three minutes as Monacan struck on a set piece with Colin Glowinski finding Grayson Gardner for the equalizer in the 64th minute.
Monacan's Colin Glowinski (right) jumps for a header against Blacksburg during Friday's Class 4 state semifinal at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 our bread and butter. We score on set pieces, throws and corners and free kicks,鈥 Resnick said.
A free kick from Huxtable in the 67th minute narrowly got by Vester for the game-winning score.
Vester recorded three saves, including stopping a penalty kick in the first half to keep the Bruins off the scoreboard.
Pratt finished with two saves.
Blacksburg keeper Nathan Pratt kicks a goal kick during Friday's Class 4 state semifinal against Monacan at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an all-year thing with us. We鈥檝e been the type of team that if we get down or things aren鈥檛 going well, the boys just seem to be very resilient in the way that they approach things,鈥 Blumenthal said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a team-oriented group that we were able to hang tough.鈥
