Latest news with #GlenAllen
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
South County's run of dominance ends one win short of the state title
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — Despite undergoing a coaching change just weeks before the season and experiencing back-to-back years without a state tournament appearance, the South County girls' soccer team got out to a decent start before ripping off win after win behind a sturdy defense and an efficient offense. The Stallions rode that surge all the way to the Virginia Class 6 title game — and they proved they belonged there, too. But they couldn't respond after Deep Run jumped ahead early on Monique McEnhimer's fifth-minute strike after a scramble in the box.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Independence caps perfect season with Class 5 girls' soccer title
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — Any loss during the state tournament can sting. But last year, when Independence lost to Kellam in the girls' soccer state semifinals and saw an undefeated season and title defense end short of a championship appearance, the Tigers were hit harder than most. Coach Ann Vierkorn said the loss was burned in her team's memory this spring. So when the Tigers found out they'd face the Knights again in this year's Class 5 title game, the coach knew it would be a dog fight.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Herndon runs past Wakefield to win first boys' soccer title since 1986
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — The Virginia Class 6 boys' soccer final sat on a knife's edge as the second half progressed Saturday morning. In some ways, the scoreless, deadlocked game was not surprising. Herndon and Wakefield, two teams that had squared off three times already this spring, had each played 100 minutes of state semifinal soccer Friday. Both schools had earned their spot in this championship game via penalty shootout. So on Saturday, two tired teams were seeking just one quality chance. In the final 22 minutes of the game, Herndon produced three of them to earn a 3-0 win and run away with its first state title since 1986 at Glen Allen High School. Senior Otu Bisong scored what would be the game-deciding goal in the 58th minute with a header into the top right corner. The assist was a corner kick from junior Angel Romero-Rivas. Bisong celebrated by running to the corner flag and celebrating in front of the seniors from last year's team, a group that fell in the state semifinals to eventual champion Cosby. 'After scoring that goal, seeing all of our seniors that graduated from when we fell short in the semis last year — celebrating with them will be a really good memory,' said Bisong, an Old Dominion signee. 'It just felt really nice to show them that we won it for them.' The loss of that 12-player senior class raised doubts, both internally and externally, as to whether the Hornets (16-5-1) could return to the level of last year's team. A 4-4 start to the season could've exacerbated those concerns. Instead, Herndon went 12-1-1 in its last 14 games to claim the program's second state title. 'More than a tactical shift — that definitely helped us — it was just a mindset shift,' Coach Jordan Steffey said. 'Coming in 4-4 was not our standard. So I asked the guys, 'Do we change the standard, or do we pick ourselves back up and go to where we can?' They answered the call.' Herndon's second-half scoring outburst ended Wakefield's improbable postseason run. The Warriors overcame a two-goal deficit in its region quarterfinal against Chantilly, downed No. 4 McLean on penalty kicks in the region semifinal and topped No. 9 Robinson and No. 2 Gar-Field in penalty kick shootouts during their second-ever state tournament appearance. Saturday's title game finished 3-0 after senior Bilal Hawa scored a penalty kick won by Eric Marenco in the 64th minute and junior Amanueil Mequanint bagged a goal on an assist by Bisong to ice the victory in the 71st minute. 'We've always had our eyes set on states,' Hawa said. 'The years before, we went to regional finals, district finals every year. We knew starting the season 4-4, that's not going to cut it. We just realized it's our final year for all the seniors and we had to do what we had to do to make it far.'
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Herndon, Wakefield earn shootout victories in Class 6 boys' soccer semis
GLEN ALLEN, Va. — Herndon created the better chances in Friday's state semifinal against reigning Virginia Class 6 boys' soccer champions Cosby, but the Hornets couldn't find the back of the net in 80 minutes of regulation or 20 minutes of overtime. Even when the penalty shootout arrived, Herndon missed its first spot kick and found itself trailing.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
South County, Independence advance to Virginia girls' soccer finals
RICHMOND — As she lined up for an indirect free kick just outside of the box early in Friday's Virginia Class 6 semifinal, South County junior midfielder Reese Brodrick aimed to send in a simple cross. But senior Lexi Arnott had other plans. Arnott ran in and tapped the ball back toward Brodrick, who struck it from a tough angle into the far top corner of the net. The 17th-minute strike, and an afternoon of stout defense, delivered South County a 1-0 win over reigning champion Freedom (South Riding) Friday and sent the No. 5 Stallions to their first state championship game since winning a title in 2021. '[Freedom] heard me say I was gonna cross it basically, so I think that caught them off guard,' Brodrick said. 'I didn't even think [Arnott] could come, and then she did it.' The Stallions will face Deep Run in the Class 6 final on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Glen Allen High School. The Wildcats defeated Yorktown, 2-0, in the other Class 6 semifinal Friday. Freedom held more possession in its game, particularly in the second half. But clean looks were hard to come by. South County has not lost a game since April 3, and have only conceded four goals in the 14 matches since. 'I'm really proud of my defensive unit," Coach Darryl Springer said. 'They really know how to work with and for each other, and I think that was the difference today. [Freedom] was coming and we had to sustain wave after wave after wave, and the cool, calm and collective poise of the defense allowed us to.' Springer became South County's head coach just a few weeks before this season started. He was the Stallions' junior varsity coach last year and spent some time around the varsity team. That familiarity helped with transition, but there was still a learning curve. Now, a few months after the year started with a bit of uncertainty, the Stallions have reached the final day of the season. 'In the beginning, I don't think we expected at all to come this far, but I think we've just come together as a team,' senior defender Paisley Sullivan said. 'We work so well together." Freedom ended its season at 18-3-2, a strong record after the program graduated three quarters of its scoring production from last year's title team, including All-Met Player of the Year Addy Hess. 'Had we all looked around at each other on Feb. 21 for tryouts and thought that we'd be in the position that we are, we probably all would have had a good laugh at that,' Eagles coach Chris Campbell said. In the second game of the Class 6 doubleheader, No. 9 Yorktown entered halftime locked in a scoreless tie. The Patriots (16-4) weren't able to get their wingers involved as much as they would've liked, partly because of a narrower field, Coach Hannah Davis said. 'Deep Run's a great team. They played competitive, physical. We definitely had some chances, we just couldn't finish. But I'm super proud of this team, they played their hearts out,' Davis said. Independence, Woodgrove, Loudoun County advance In Class 5, top-ranked Independence beat Ocean Lakes, 5-2. Senior Jayden Fisher scored twice, and senior Lilli Lubic netted her 30th goal of the year. The undefeated Tigers, who fell in last year's semifinal after winning a state title in 2023, will face Kellam on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Deep Run High School. Woodgrove (13-8-1) coupled a strong defensive effort with goals from senior Liala Berg, sophomore Ryan Gonzalez, and junior Savannah Mangold to beat Jamestown, 3-0, in the Class 4 semifinal. The Wolverines will face Loudoun County, 1-0 winners over Atlee, in Saturday's championship game at 9 a.m. at Monticello High School. Loudoun County freshman Claire Engelberger scored an overtime goal to give her team the win. The Captains (21-0-1) have played Woodgrove four times this spring, with three wins and a draw. In the Class 3 bracket, Brentsville District fell in penalty kicks, 4-3, after a scoreless tie with Cave Spring.
