Generals Dominate District Title Game

The Washington-Lee Generals improved to 14-1-1 last night, beating the Mount Vernon Majors 6-0 to win the National District Championship.  While the Generals attack took control of the game from the opening whistle, the defense continued its dominance, recording its seventh shutout in eight games.  In those games, Washington-Lee has outscored their opponents 35-2.  With their defense impenetrable and their offense firing on all cylinders, it appears the Generals are playing their best soccer when it matters most.

Washington-Lee had a chance to steal a goal in the opening 30 seconds when a perfectly placed long ball created a bouncing 1-on-1 opportunity, but the Mount Vernon keeper was up for the challenge.  However, 12 minutes later Carlos Dellagostino got behind the defense with a well timed diagonal run and beat the Major netminder near post for the opener.

Eric Schmidt would get his name on the scorecard just minutes later when a beautiful punt from keeper Robert Dewald set him up on the break.  The first team all-district attacker blew past his defender before confidently slotting it into the side netting at the far post.

Keith Ricks joined the party when he came away with the ball in a scrum just outside the 18-yard box.  Ricks powered his way past three Mount Vernon defenders before blasting a shot into the back of the net.  He again tried to muscle his way through in the final minute of the half only to see it poked away.  Unfortunately for the Majors, it rolled to the foot of senior Gustavo Mariaca, who ripped a laser from quarter field, beating the keeper to the far post with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock.

While General Coach Carrasquillo sat many of his starters in the second half to rest them form the regional tournament, the level of play did not drop off.  The defense remained rock solid as the best chances Mount Vernon could muster were shots on free kicks from nearly 40 yards out.

With 10 minutes remaining in the match, sophomore substitute Ryan Uckert made a brilliant run down the left side, crossing the ball to Ricks, who unselfishly laid it off to Josh Katz for the point blank goal.  Striker Alan Ochoa put the icing on the cake with a great goal on a 50-yard breakaway run with 2 minutes left to play, and the Generals celebrated there first district championship in over 5 years.