By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington, D.C.
**Click the links within each game summary for individual video and photo galleries**
Chantilly 3, Langley 1
Video from Chantilly-Langley Photos from Chantilly-Langley
After a scoreless — and uneventful — first half, the Chargers erupted for three goals in the first nine minutes following halftime.
Senior forward Betsy Stipa sparked the run with a second-chance goal in the 33rd minute. Hers was followed promptly by scores from sophomore Brooke Daniels in the 38th minute and junior Maddy Vance on a 39th-minute rebound.
Only a redirected shot in the 59th minute by Saxon sophomore Kelsey Rook prevented the shutout.
“During halftime we had sort of an inspirational speech,” said Stipa of the Chantilly’s decisive start to the second half. “Coach [Ralph Chapman] said we need to get fired up. We could all tell that we were all not into it. We just needed to find something to push us into the mood and start playing better — and work as a team.”
Oakton 4, Washington-Lee 1
Video from Oakton-W-L Photos from Oakton-W-L
With the scorekeeper sneaking behind the match official to count down the final seconds of the first half, the Cougars led the Generals by a goal and had allowed them a pair of chances for an equalizer.
But it only took an awkward bounce from an acute angle to subside Oakton’s fears at intermission.
Senior forward Rachel Doerr threaded a shot through a sea of defenders and into the Washington-Lee cage to double the margin at halftime.
The Cougars carried the momentum over the break, cruising to a 4-1 opening-game win over the Generals.
“It was off a corner and we did it where we hit it to the outside girl, she’d hit it back in and we all just try to get the tip off to score the goal,” Doerr said. “I was kind of shocked. I was looking around like, ‘Was that a goal?’ But it was in the goal.”
Goals by senior Lauren Mathieu in the 42nd minute and senior Rachelle Marquez in the 46th minute (pictured) rounded out the Oakton scoring. A 60th-minute strike by first-team all-region senior Kelsey Clark provided Washington-Lee its only tally.
South County 2, Thomas Jefferson 1
Video from South County-TJ Photos from South County-TJ
Apparently 39 minutes of scoreless play was enough for Stallion senior forward Megan Wears.
With already a goal to her credit, Wears broke a 1-1 tie in the 50th minute with a well-played strike in the bottom left corner to lift South County over Jefferson, 2-1, early Friday afternoon.
“Each year, it’s a close game. We’re always one goal ahead, it’s always a close match-up head-to-head,” said Wears, the Stallions highest-scoring returner. “We practice passing sequences every day. We’re just executing what we practice.”
The Colonials were kept afloat by stellar play from senior goalkeeper Katie Martinez and an 11th-minute goal by Amber Kuo.
T.C. Williams 3, Edison 2 (OT)
Video from T.C. Williams-Edison Photos from T.C. Williams-Edison
With a freshman goalie making her first career start, the Titans trailed by one with over 13 minutes remaining before halftime. The Eagles appeared to have the game in control.
T.C. Williams, though, used a goal by junior forward Kelsey Donley in the waning seconds of the first half, dynamic work in the cage by freshman keeper Megan Boyle and a sudden-victory winner by senior forward Katy Mendez to topple Edison in overtime, 3-2, in the penultimate match at Westfield Friday.
“It’s really uplifting, we just really wanted to win,” said Mendez, coming off a 2-0 loss to Jefferson earlier in the morning. “It was just exhilarating. You’re like, ‘I’m trying my hardest.’ And then you go out there and you just put it to the back. Victory.”
But Mendez would have likely never had the opportunity for heroics had it not been for Boyle standing tall throughout the second half.
Replacing the injured starter, senior Sarah Schwartz, Boyle made four second-half saves to keep the game deadlocked through regulation.
“She was definitely nervous, but she played in the earlier game and she really stepped it up,” said Donley, whose equalizer came :34 seconds before the half. “She’s a phenomenal goaltender. I’m excited to see what she’s going to be like when she’s a senior.”
Westfield 4, Hayfield 0
Video from Westfield-Hayfield Photos from Westfield-Hayfield
The Bulldogs wasted no time securing a chance to defend their tournament title Saturday with their second match Friday.
Westfield senior midfielder Lauren Stuchlak and junior forward Annie Martello each scored in the first four minutes against Hayfield — and each later scored again — in a 4-0 win to cap play on the baseball field Friday.
“It’s always good because it gets our intensity up,” said Martello of the early goals. “[It] gets us motivated to play the game because we had that early lead.”
Stuchlak scored her second goal in the 12th minute to put the Bulldogs ahead, 3-0. Martello closed the scorebook in the 37th minute.
Westfield plays South County in the first semifinal Saturday at 11:30 a.m. West Springfield faces Oakton in the second at 1:30 p.m.
The losers of each of those games meet in the third-place game at 5 p.m. The winners play in the championship at 6:30 p.m.
Other consolation matches begin at Westfield at 10 a.m.
Other Results:
Jefferson 2, T.C. Williams 0
West Springfield 2, Hayfield 1
Westfield 2, Langley 0
West Springfield 2, Chantilly 0
South County 2, Washington-Lee 1
Oakton 1, Edison 0
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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