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Spartan girls capture state soccer title
RADFORD -- With only three seniors on the combined rosters for Broad Run and Courtland, the chances of an underclassman playing a major role in the outcome of the June 6 Virginia AA girls' soccer championship game at Radford University were rather strong.
And that's exactly what happened.
With Broad Run sporting a dynamic junior class that already features four Division I college commitments, Ellie Zoepfl, a freshman midfielder, stepped up to the forefront and scored the biggest goal of her young soccer career.
Zoepfl lofted a shot approximately 22 yards out from the right side into the left corner of the goal 11 minutes into Saturday's title game against Courtland. Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Hunter and a stellar Spartan defense made the early lead stand in a 1-0 victory that gave the Spartans their first state title since 2001.
"Val [Powell] passed it back to me and I just dribbled and took a good touch forward and hit it as hard as I could into the net. This is definitely the biggest goal I've ever scored," said Zoepfl, who was awarded the game ball following the victory. "It's a big deal to score the only goal in the state game, and I did it, so I'm really proud of that. Our whole team played really well."
Spartan coach Claire Collins, who earned her first state championship as a coach, said, "Ellie has contributed a lot to the success of the team. What an amazing feeling she must be experiencing, not only the state win but she scored the winning goal."
Asked to describe her view of the winning goal, Collins said, "I think maybe she looked up and saw the keeper was kind of committed to the near post and fired a shot in the back of the far post. Good for her to show the vision and score the game-winning goal."
The Spartans officially completed a perfect season at 24-0, but it's 25-0 in their record book. Broad Run received a first-round bye in the Region II tournament to slice one game from the 25 games they expected to play prior to the season starting.
"In our mind it's 25-0," Collins said. “That's what we said since day one, 25 games to get here. I'm just so proud, so happy."
Four-year varsity player Kelly Smith -- one of two seniors on the squad along with Carina Chavez -- said, "Unbelievable, I can't believe we actually just won a state title. We wanted it so, so bad all season. It's amazing to walk away today knowing we just went 25-0."
The Spartans continued to attack after Zoepfl's early goal in hopes of adding an insurance goal. Broad Run had watched Courtland, which defeated Broad Run on penalty kicks in the state quarterfinal round last year, rally from a one-goal deficit to defeat Salem in the semifinals a day earlier.
Broad Run controlled play for a majority of Saturday's game -- holding a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks and forcing Courtland goalkeeper Karina Monroe to make eight saves.
The Cougars' best chance to tie the game occurred with 16 minutes left in the first half. Heather Schnake ripped a long shot from outside the penalty box off the crossbar and Olivia Mabry's rebound attempt sailed wide left.
The Spartans continued to press in the second half and it nearly paid off with 14 minutes remaining, when junior Kelly Evans' header was deflected out of play by Monroe.
"We wanted to keep playing the way we've been playing the whole year," Collins said. "We just couldn't finish. Their goalkeeper did a great job of keeping them in the game."
Broad Run dropped back into a defensive mode for the last 10 minutes of play. The Spartans were able to deny Courtland any real dangerous chances down the stretch as they held on for the 1-0 victory.
Collins praised Hunter and her defense led by Brenna Smith, Jenny Taylor, Kacey Kelley and Taylor Starr after the game.
"When I put all those girls back there, it's so hard to get in behind them," she said. "They are so solid and strong. They read each other very well and trust each other. I'm lucky. I have a good back line."
Junior Holly King delivered another strong effort from her midfield position in Saturday's win. King has played in many big games, as have many of her teammates, for their club soccer teams. But King, already committed to the University of Florida, said this victory easily ranks at the top of her list.
"Definitely, this is my number one game," she said. "I've never won states before, our team has never won states. This is a feeling that I've never felt before. Almost everyone here is on a Division I team. So coming out there and being able to win all these games and going undefeated, I think that means something to everyone."
Spartans cruise into final
Junior forward Kelly Evans needed just 14 seconds to get the Broad Run Spartans off and running in the Virginia AA girls' soccer semifinals against Hidden Valley June 5 at Radford University.
Evans scored from a tough angle on a nice individual play in the first minute of the game, then added another first-half goal to help lift the Spartans to a 4-1 victory.
"It was kind of a fluke goal, but I don't care how goals are scored," Broad Run coach Claire Collins said. "Kelly had no angle, but that's just how good Kelly Evans is. She had such a good game today. She worked so hard. Obviously all the girls did. But Kelly Evans is a workhorse."
Seniors Kelly Smith and Carina Chavez added second-half goals for the Spartans.
Special spectators
Broad Run's state championship holds special meaning for a pair of Stone Bridge soccer coaches. Junior Amy May is the second daughter of Bulldog boys' soccer coach Randy May to win a state soccer title at Broad Run. Erin May was a member of the Spartans' 2001 state championship team.
Stone Bridge girls' coach Rae Ann Taylor watched her daughters, sophomore Jenny Taylor and freshman Kathy Taylor, win state titles this year.
Broad Run and Stone Bridge high schools are located in Ashburn.
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