Leesburg, Va. — Looking to improve upon a 4-11 finish in 2017, the Loudoun County High School field hockey team earned its second win of the season, shutting out Broad Run High School, 4-0, in front of a home crowd in Leesburg on August 27.
“I think we played really well tonight,” Loudoun County senior midfielder Sydney Vaka said. “We played like a family.”
[adrotate banner=”10″]The first half of the game was rather slow, with neither team getting many chances. The teams combined for just three penalty corners and headed to halftime scoreless.
However, in the second half, Loudoun County started to show how to use the home field to their advantage.
Corners turned out to be the trick for the Lady Raiders, as they marched into the second half showing dominance, backing Broad Run into their end seven times and scoring on four of those opportunities.
Loudoun County also showed just how dangerous they are with their speed. The Lady Raiders used long upfield drives, forcing the pace, and Broad Run could not keep up.
Vaka got the Loudoun County scoring started off of a penalty corner with 21:45 left in the second half. Lady Raider sophomore forward Emily Tyler followed Vaka’s goal up with two goals of her own within the next two-and-a-half minutes. Then Loudoun County freshman midfielder Alyssa Markell scored the Lady Raiders’ fourth and final goal of the night with just more than a minute left in the game.
While Broad Run looked shaky from the start, junior midfielder Kelly Rose – who has made a commitment to play at DI Iowa – dominated the field and drew a few corners, but the Spartans were not able to capitalize. And some Spartan miscues allowed the Lady Raiders to take advantage of their speed in the transition.
“We trust each other so much,” Vaka said. “Hopefully, that continues into the rest of the season.”
Loudoun County (2-1) looks to keep their winning ways going when they travel to Kettle Run on August 29. Broad Run (1-2) looks to bounce back against Riverside (3-0) on September 4 in Leesburg.
Scoring
2H 21:45 LC Sydney Vaka
2H 19:09 LC Emily Tyler
2H 20:50 LC Emily Tyler
2H 1:20 LC Alyssa Markell
