RADFORD -- Andrea Odemark scored three goals yesterday to propel Goochland into the Virginia High School League Group A girls soccer tournament championship game.

What could be better than that? How about the exchange student from Norway producing the hat trick in front of her parents, whom she hadn't seen in 10 months.

There's more. Odemark, along with her fellow seniors, drove back to Goochland after yesterday's 5-3 victory over Virginia High of Bristol to graduate last night. Then, it was back in the car for the return trip to Radford and today's final against George Mason at noon. George Mason defeated Radford on penalty kicks, 5-4.

"I'm so happy. I can't describe it. It's amazing," an obviously thrilled Odemark said. "It's like I want to cry. I'm so glad I got to do this with them."

Odemark became a Bulldog at the beginning of the school year. She applied through an exchange program to come to school in the U.S.

"They put me somewhere with a family," she said.

Somewhere was Goochland, and she became a member of Robert and Gail Wooten's family.

"I'm really happy I landed there," Odemark said. "Everybody's amazing."

Goochland teammates and fans will agree the diminutive Odemark (she's barely 5 feet tall and 100 pounds) is an amazing soccer player.

When coach Tom Reid, who at 69 years old is in his first year as the Bulldogs' head coach (he's been at the middle school), spotted Odemark playing recreation soccer in the fall, he knew he had a state-tournament-caliber team.

It didn't matter that Goochland had never advanced beyond the first round of the region playoffs.

"I told the girls we were going to the state tournament, and they looked at me and laughed," Reid said. "Now, they believe me."

The Bulldogs (13-5) scored three times in the first half: an own goal (Odemark was closest to the ball), off a shot deflection that Megan DeLong put back into the net and a breakaway by the speedy Odemark.

Virginia, 15-3-1 and making its first appearance in the state tournament as well, tallied on a goal by Hannah Shankel.

Goochland padded its lead with two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Holly Donovan beat Bearcats keeper Selena Trichel to the ball in the 6-yard box and tapped it in, and Odemark rebounded her own blocked shot and headed it home.

"The object is to score quickly and keep scoring," Reid said. "We know most teams are going to get tough as time progresses, and they did."

The Bearcats' Carrie Wisman scored on a direct kick from 25 yards out for 5-2, and Grayson Collins stole the ball in the box and beat goalie Jessica Richardson for 5-3 with 11:03 left in the game.

"It's tougher when you get so far ahead because it gives the other team motivation. Their intensity increases, and it makes my job harder," Goochland defender Brandi Fleming said.

Wisman had two more direct kicks in the last 10 minutes, but she missed on one and Richardson tipped the other over the cross bar.

"I really wanted this," Fleming said. "I knew it would feel good to walk into my graduation knowing that I'm going to the state final. It's a big adrenaline rush."

Virginia ------------------------- 1 2 -- 3
Goochland ------------------------- 3 2 -- 5

Saves: Trichel (V) 11; Richardson (G) 9.

Shots on goal: Virginia 15; Goochland 22.