Broad Run Boys' LAX Falls in Semis

By Jeff Nelson

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Before lightning postponed one of last night's state semifinals at Westfield, Langley's offense struck early and often to propel the Saxons to their first appearance in the state championship game.

With a 15-9 victory over Broad Run, Langley will play Saturday against the winner of the other semifinal, which is scheduled to resume today with Chantilly leading Robinson at halftime, 5-3.

While the Chargers and Rams both have state titles -- Chantilly in 2008; Robinson in 2006 and 2007 -- the Saxons (20-1) can contemplate the possibility of winning their first championship.

"We had never won regionals [before this year], so this is huge," said Langley senior attackman Ryan Ningard, who had four goals in the victory. "It's like the dream team here. Going all the way it would be something."

Saxons Coach Earl Brewer noted there haven't been many state championships for Langley this decade. Only the golf team in 2001 and the gymnastics team in 2004 have brought home titles.

"I love our lacrosse team and what they've done, but I'm really happy for our school," Brewer said. "We're known for being the brainy-kid school or the rich-kid school, but you saw a workmanlike effort here."

The Saxons scored four goals in the first six minutes and never trailed last night, providing a stark contrast to the first time Langley and Broad Run met this season. In that game, during spring break, the Spartans jumped to a 5-0 lead before the Saxons rallied for a 12-7 win.

"Our game plan [this time] was to come out and slap them in the face, and hopefully take down some of their morale," Ningard said. "And we did that, putting them down by four right away."

Broad Run managed to cut the deficit to 4-3 late in the first quarter and 5-4 midway through the second, but the Saxons got goals from Ningard and junior Jack Lundeen to take a 7-4 lead into halftime.

With the sun still out and players from both teams beginning to tire from the muggy weather, Langley's superior depth took effect in the third quarter, allowing the Saxons push their advantage to 13-8.

For Langley's defense, which needed to play near-perfect lacrosse during a pair of low-scoring Northern Region tournament games, the five-goal cushion was much appreciated.

"Our offense was playing one of our better games today," Langley senior goalie Galen Kuney said. "So I kept telling the defense, 'We've just got to do our job. We're really getting goals, and it's not on us this time.' "

Junior attackman Ethan Bailey also had four goals to lead Langley, while the top scorers for Broad Run (16-4) were seniors Kyle Ward (four) and Tim Sanders (three).

No matter who wins today's game, the Saxons will face a team on Saturday that they have defeated recently. In the Northern Region semifinals, the Saxons topped Chantilly, 6-4. In the region final, they edged Robinson, 6-5 in double overtime.

"The success we've had motivates us to continue with this success," Kuney said, "because winning a region championship is great, but we don't want to end the season on a loss."

Tagged: Broad Run High School, high school sports, lacrosse

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