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Oakton runs out of time
Losing to Concorde District rival Chantilly by a single goal in its regular-season finale was tough for the Oakton girls lacrosse team to take, especially considering a last-second effort came up just short. It wasn't any easier a week later, when the same scenario played out in Monday's district semifinal.The two-time defending district champion Cougars saw their reign over the Concorde come to an end with an 8-7 loss to Chantilly.
“I cannot ever be disappointed with them for playing so hard and playing so tough and just putting it all out there,” Oakton coach Jean Counts said. “They did what I asked.”
The Cougars fell behind 2-0 early in the first half, but a goal from senior Brittany Patriarca and two from junior Blair Keffer sent Oakton into halftime trailing just 4-3.
Chantilly extended its lead to 7-3 with three straight goals to begin the second half, but Keffer's third goal of the game and three tallies by senior Ashley Kimener pulled the Cougars to within a goal with about five minutes remaining. Kimener spent most of the first half marking the Chargers' top offensive players defensively before focusing on her offense in the second half.
“We only have one of Ashley, but we need her in the offense, the defense and the midfield,” Counts said, explaining the multiple roles Kimener plays. “She's the best player I've coached in my 11 years at Oakton. I was very happy with the way she played. If I could just split her in two, then we'd be set.”
Oakton had a flurry of chances in the final seconds, but Chantilly goalkeeper Heather Meraw made the Chargers' one-goal lead hold up.
Though the Cougars' run at a third straight district title came to an end Monday, Counts has been pleased with the progress she has seen from her young team over the course of the season.
“We graduated so many and for so long, we had a brand new team that really didn't know anything,” she said. “To see this team and that they've come this far is why we coach. It would've been nice to see them pull out the win. It's the second game in a row we ran out of time. I think we'll see [Chantilly] again. They're a good team.”
And Oakton still has its consecutive state championships to defend as well.
“We're not done,” Counts said. “There's always a half-full, half-empty kind of perspective. The great thing is that we have practice tomorrow. We get to go back and figure out what we can do better. We have another tomorrow. There's more games for us to come. I'm very excited for the tournament.”
Oakton will face the National District champion in the first round of the Northern Region tournament on May 13.
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