By Angela Watts
Managing Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
** Look below the story to find two separate video players filled with dozens of highlights from the Virginia AAA girls’ and boys’ state championship lacrosse games.
The weather at Westfield High School — host of the Virginia AAA Spring Jubilee — went from miserably hot-and-humid to wildly electric Saturday evening on the final day of high school sports for the 2008 school year.
And this year’s final two events — the girls’ and boys’ lacrosse championships — were a similar story of extremes.
Oakton’s girls’ battled their biggest rival, Northern Region compatriot Chantilly, through the blazing afternoon temperatures and, as a reward, were showered with chants of “Three-Peat!” in the closing minutes of their 20-11 victory in the first game of the championship lacrosse doubleheader. The Cougars are the only team to have claimed a state championship since the Virginia High School League began sponsoring a lacrosse final in 2006.
“Each one is special,” said Oakton Coach Jean Counts, who couldn’t have been happier to be drenched with an ice bucket by her players at game’s end. “Every single one is special because it’s just so hard to do, so hard-fought. Everybody wants it; it’s so coveted. And the fact that we are fortunate enough to have this happen to us — that we are able to work together and execute — that’s all that really matters. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Chantilly’s boys’, meanwhile, were forced to wait through more than an hour lightening delay before claiming their first Virginia AAA championship with a 12-5 victory over Oakton. The game, which started more than an hour late, did not end until after 11 p.m. because of the weather delay, but it certainly did not damper the Chargers’ — or their fans’ — spirits.
“The kids wore T-shirts to school on Friday that said: One More,” Chantilly Coach Kevin Broderick said. “That’s what we were all about — one more pass, one more game we had to play. They wanted to get it done and they did.
“Chantilly was 34-51 the six years before these [sixteen] seniors got here and the best record in school history was 9-6. Then we went 7-7, 7-7, 9-8 and now 20-0. These guys really set a standard.”
In the first game, Oakton got goals from three different players in the first 1 minute, 21 seconds of play and never looked back. The Cougars never trailed in the game, and had extended their lead to 15-6 by half time.
Oakton was led by senior standout midfielder Ashley Kimener, who dominated the draws, raced past defenders with unmatched ease and netted a game-high seven goals to go along with her two assists. But six other Cougars scored as well, including four goals by senior attack/midfielder Erin Sensabaugh, two each by junior midfielder Danielle Filipponi, junior attack Blair Keffer, senior attack Brittany Patriarca and junior midfielder Sarah Beth Rupp and one by sophomore midfielder Jackie Alexander.
Oakton also got outstanding play by senior Tory Morgan in goal, and a stout defensive effort by senior defenders Lisa Gavron and Kayla Hoefer.
“We did it together today,” Counts said. “Everybody pitched in. We are not a one-man show, even though our one-man [Kimener] is the best player I’ve ever coached. So it says a lot that she and her teammates were able to come up and have a game like that and finish the way they did, with a win. That was all we wanted — to end with a win.”
Chantilly’s boys’ similarly jumped to a four-goal lead in the nightcap and also never trailed their Northern Region rivals en route to their first Virginia AAA crown in school history. The Chargers, who dominated ground balls and controlled the tempo throughout, were led by senior attacks Corey Aferiat and Joseph Fratter with three goals a piece. Senior Jake Nolan also added a piar of goals, the second of which — the 12th and final Charger score on the night — was picture-perfect as he ran to his right before wrapping his stick around his back to beat the keeper to the top left corner of the goal.
Chantilly also got two goals fom senior Ian Mills and single scores from senior Kevin O’Neill and sophomore Brendan Waters, plus a superb effort in goal from keeper junior Derek Kegerreis, who turned away several Oakton shots in the second half after its lead had been trimmed to 6-5.
“They say you put your best athlete in goal,” Broderick said. “He is a fantastic athlete. He could play attack or he could play long stick defense. He comes to play in the big-time games.”
Email: awatts@digitalsports.com
GIRLS
Chantilly 6 5 — 11
Oakton 15 5 — 20
BOYS
Oakton 0 2 3 0 — 5
Chantilly 4 1 2 5 — 12
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