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Vikings' season ends in state lacrosse semis
CHANTILLY -- Loudoun Valley's run in the Group AA/AAA girls' lacrosse state tournament ended June 5 in the semifinal round at Westfield High School with a 12-10 loss at the hands of Oakton.
If each of the 25-minute halves had been a few minutes shorter, the outcome might have been significantly different.
The Cougars were held at bay by the Vikings' defense before exploding for four straight goals in the last two minutes of the first half, sending the game to halftime tied at 6.
As time dwindled in the second half, Valley mounted a two-goal advantage on the Cougars when Sophie Swann threw in her team-leading third tally with 8:08 left.
Oakton repeated its trick of ending the period with four unanswered scores, taking its first lead of the game when Ashley Kimener delivered off a free-position chance with 5:41 showing on the clock. The Cougars then played keep-away from the Vikings, registering a cosmetic goal when Kimener scored with one second remaining.
The Northern Region's top seed staved off the upset bid by Valley, the Northwest Region's second seed. Attacker Blair Keffer, one of six Cougars on the scoresheet, garnered a game-high five goals.
"Our whole philosophy is that the game rests on ball control, and the ground balls and draws are what cost us today," Valley coach Jay Harkey observed. "Unfortunately, they had a little bit more juice at the end of the halves. They have some very good athletes."
Viking netminder Trish Hicks was especially stalwart early, deflecting 10 shots during the first half on her way to 13 saves.
"I can't say enough good things about her," Harkey said of Hicks, a former soccer goalkeeper who is in her second year of competitive lacrosse. “She's not the most athletic kid, but she gets it done when she has to, and she dang near got it done today.”
Liz Klemens and coach's daughters Jessica and Shannon Harkey contributed two goals apiece. The latter Harkey assisted on three scores.
Even immediately after the narrow loss, Coach Harkey conveyed no indication that he was displeased with the season's outcome.
"I'm not doing my job if I'm not trying to get to the state title," Harkey said. “A lot of people don't think that's achievable, but I think we've just proved that we can. It doesn't take away from the fact that we have some of the best players in the state playing here."
Valley sees off five seniors, three of whom will play at the college level -- Klemens and Kelsey Daddio at Christopher Newport University, and Jessica Harkey at the University of Maryland--Baltimore County.
"They led this team the entire season," Harkey commented of his graduating class. "Their mantra was 'Believe,' and for the entire season they kept that up."
The Vikings finish the season at 16-5, champions of the Cedar Run District. They repeated their success of two seasons ago, when they also reached the state semifinals.
"We're always thinking about next year," Harkey said, noting that of eight of his 12 starters are either freshmen or sophomores. "The good news of all this is we should have some successful seasons for a few years in a row."
The contest had been rescheduled from June 4 due to thunderstorms in the Chantilly area severe enough to knock out electrical power from Westfield. Had power not been restored on the afternoon of June 5, the game would have been relocated to another school.
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