The Lancers will return to the state playoffs for a fourth straight season; the Cavaliers earned a state quarterfinal spot for the first time since 2005.
For Virginia boys’ soccer teams, a region semifinal carries even more weight than your typical do-or-die playoff game. All region finalists are guaranteed a spot in the state playoff bracket, meaning if you win a region semi, the reward is twofold: You clinch a state quarterfinal appearance, and you earn the luxury of playing for a region banner without the threat of elimination.
On Wednesday night in Springfield, four local teams competed in a Class 6 Region C semifinal doubleheader that held season-changing sway for all involved. In the first game, Lewis defended its home field with a 3-1 win over Alexandria City. In the second, W.T. Woodson beat Lake Braddock, 3-1, to earn a spot in the state tournament for the first time since 2005.
The Lancers and Cavaliers join fellow region finalists Colgan, Gar-Field, Herndon and McLean as local programs that have earned spots in next week’s state playoffs. But first, they will face off Friday for the region title.
“Win one to play two,” Cavaliers Coach Sean Burke said. “Nothing better.”
Woodson (13-1-3) and Lake Braddock (10-6-1) have proved to be well-matched adversaries: In late April, the Cavaliers earned a 1-0 win in double overtime. Both teams came out firing Wednesday, and Bruins senior Cengiz Ciner put his team up 20 minutes in. Woodson responded less than a minute later, leveling the score on a picture-perfect free kick by senior Jack Garwood.
In a tense second half, Woodson junior Alex Garrison broke the tie with 20 minutes remaining when a cross trickled through traffic and found him waiting at the back post.
“Our right winger put the ball in a dangerous area, and it fell to me,” Garrison said. “That’s all I can ask for.”
Garrison’s point-blank strike put the Cavaliers ahead and energized them for the home stretch. Garwood made that task a little easier when he added a second goal in the final minutes. “This is a resilient team,” he said. “Tonight, we went down early and we fought back. We always fight back.”
In the first game, Lewis scored three second-half goals to earn a spot in the state bracket for the fourth straight season. The Lancers, Class 6 finalists last spring, returned plenty of speed and athleticism. More importantly, they also brought back a well-established winning culture. The Springfield program, once overlooked in Northern Virginia, has established itself as one of the best in the state.
The Lancers’ confidence was needed after a scoreless first half Wednesday. A plucky Titans team, in the midst of a surprising postseason run, contained the Lancers and limited their early chances.
“In the first half, we were waiting to see what the opponent wanted to do instead of dictating,” Lancers Coach John Millward said. “Eventually we put the pedal to the metal.”
Four minutes into the second half, junior forward Giovanni Hernandez found midfielder Moad Ezzahir with a cross, the senior tapped it home, and the Lancers (17-0-1) were off and running. Senior Elias Rodriguez beat the keeper a few minutes later to give the Lancers a two-goal cushion. After Alexandria City (8-9-2) pulled one back, Ezzahir scored again to put his team at ease.
“We’re confident, no matter the group of guys on the field, that we can get the result. We trust the culture,” Ezzahir said. “Now we’re looking forward to going to states, but we also want that region championship.”
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