One Not Enough for Stone Bridge

By Paul Tenorio

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

In four consecutive games through the Virginia AAA Northern Region playoffs, top-ranked Stone Bridge used slim 1-0 wins on its way to capturing the region title. Last night in Ashburn against Eastern Region runner-up Kecoughtan, an early Bulldogs goal was not enough to stand up, as the Warriors rallied and scored with just more than five minutes remaining to defeat Stone Bridge, 2-1, in the Virginia AAA state quarterfinals.

"We had more chances than we've ever had, better chances than we've ever had and we did get the one [goal], which had been enough throughout these playoffs," Bulldogs All-Met forward Ronnie Shaban said. "So I think that in the second half we definitely came out too casual.

"We were not focused as much as we needed to be and we made the worst mistakes. And after that second-half performance we did not deserve to win that game."

The Bulldogs (18-2-1) took the lead less than five minutes into the game when Shaban's cross bounced over the head of a Kecoughtan defender to Stone Bridge senior Eric Skogerboe, who hit a powerful side volley inside the near post to make it 1-0.

Stone Bridge dominated the rest of the half, with Shaban narrowly missing twice and Chris Kamara's offering from a corner kick hitting the crossbar. Shaban also looked to have doubled the lead with eight seconds remaining before halftime, but the goal was called back for offside.

In the second half, however, Kecoughtan (15-7) rallied as Stone Bridge struggled to find any sort of rhythm.

The Warriors pulled even five minutes into the second half on a free kick to the upper corner of the far post by junior Robert Alberti and had several other near misses before and after a 35-minute lightning delay. The winner came when junior Karl Kummer stole the ball near the end line with five minutes remaining, took a few touches inside the 18-yard box and struck for a 2-1 margin.

"I felt today we gave away a couple things," Stone Bridge Coach Randy May said. "But I'm proud of them. We gave [Kecoughtan] a chance to be alive and we didn't finish our chances."

Region II champion Park View fellto Grafton, 2-1, in a Virginia AA state quarterfinal in Sterling.

The Patriots (17-3-3) fell behind 2-0 early in the first half. Senior Jose Zelaya scored one minute into the second half, but there would be no equalizer.

"We just came out very flat in the first half," Park View Coach Arturo Jimenez said. "In the state tournament you've got to play the whole game. We didn't play the first 40 minutes and that got to us."

Tagged: high school sports, Park View High School, soccer, Stone Bridge High School

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