As the captains stepped to the center circle for the overtime coin toss and the teams rehydrated on a muggy spring afternoon, the rain began to pour, setting the stage for an epic finish to a highly entertaining semi final game between the Bruins and the highly touted Washington Lee Generals. Lake Braddock had already battled back from a goal down twice, the second on a heroic bicycle kick from Jefferson Ortiz with a minute-and-a-half remaining to force overtime, and on this fateful night at Robinson’s Spring Sports Jubilee, the Bruins refused to be beaten.
Both teams came out ready to play, as the respective midfield’s displayed the desire to possess and the ability to create. However, the defenses prevailed in the early going, as neither team scored before the heat-induced water break at the 20-minute mark.
While the Bruins started to get the edge in possession by playing out of the back and using the width of the pitch, they also began to have trouble with Washington-Lee’s All-Region striker Eric Schmidt. Schmidt got behind the back four in transtition a couple times before finally making Lake Braddock pay with an assist on the opening goal.
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The Bruins came out firing in the second half desperately looking for the equalizer to keep their season alive, and persistence payed off midway through the period. Elhadi Diouf, who had just saved the day with an athletic clearance in front of his own net, got on the end of a long free kick with the flick of his head, slightly redirecting past the W-L keeper.
Just when Lake Braddock looked to have the momentum, disaster struck, as a long shot went through the hands of Bruin keep Patrick Clark and into goal to give the lead back to the Generals. Clark, who was clearly disappointed with his gaff, responded moments later with a great sliding foot save to keep his team in the game.
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The Bruins continued to battle back for the equalizer to no avail, until Ortiz came up with a wonder goal no one watching will ever forget. When a desperation long ball took and awkward high bounce away from the charging keeper and over the head of Ortiz, the senior striker turned back and bicycle kicked it in the roof of the net to send the Bruin faithful into hysterics.
“If anyone could do that it would be Jefferson,” head coach Joe Soos said of the glory goal. “He’s such a gutsy kid, and he has come up big for us all year.”
As great as Ortiz’s effort was, a trip to regional title was still on the line, and the Bruins needed another player to step up in the overtime period. That player was Matt Fraedrich. The senior took a confident first touch 40 yards from goal and finished on the run with what proved to be the winning goal.
“I play club soccer with their center back and keeper,” Fraedrich explained. “So when I saw Alex over commit I took my touch on, then I resorted to what I knew about Rob (General netminder) to put it past him. It was probably the best feeling of my life.”
Washington-Lee nearly equalized with a free kick in the closing minutes, but this time Clark used his fingertips to guide the ball over the crossbar. He also owend his box in the last attacking foray, snatching balls out of the air to help secure the victory.
With the win, Lake Braddock has clinched a spot in AAA Virginia State tournament, However, before then, the Bruins have the daunting task of taking on the 16-1-2 Langley Saxons for the regional title, yet senior captain Connor Kosko remains confident they have what it takes.
“We feel like everyone has been underestimating us,” said Kosko, a Radford signee. “We have beaten two teams in the tournament that beat us in the regular season, and now were going to get back to practice and keep chugging away.”
“This year our motto has been it’s our family versus your team,” Fraedrich added. "We play hard and for each other. We may not have the personal accolades of the other team (The Bruin have 0 All-Region selections), but we believe we are the best team.”
Lake Braddock will attempt to prove that at Madison High on Friday night at 7:30PM.
