Herndon Girls Drop One to Undefeated Wildcats

Opportunity presented itself to the Herndon girls’ varsity soccer team Thursday night on its home field turf as Centreville came into town.

The Hornets (3-2-2) had the chance to scar the Wildcat’s (8-0) unblemished record if they could pull off the upset.

After a hard fought first half tied at one goal apiece, Centreville shifted its motor into fifth gear and scored two more goals to remain undefeated with the district win, 3-1.

Herndon controlled the tempo and attacked the Wildcats heavily behind aggressive tackles and point blank shooting from Kaitlyn Law and Harper Coyer.

But Centreville mid-fielder Alex Myers pushed the ball up the left sideline and juked a defender near the corner. Myers then ripped a 15-yard banana kick from a 30-degree angle in between the near post and goalkeeper for the winning score with 16:29 remaining. 

Senior Mari Marotta would head the ball in for another Wildcat score nine minutes later to seal the victory for Centreville.

The Hornets opened the game on fire. The team's mid-fielders double-teamed the Wildcat strikers, tackling hard for easy turnovers. Kaitlyn Law stunned Centreville when she weaved her way through its defenders to put Herndon on the scoreboard first with a ten-yard laser beam inside the far post with 32:44 still left in the first.

“I fought through, ran through the ball and just placed it,” Law said. “I’m just proud of the team because we fought 100 percent… and we came out hard and got some result.”

Several Wildcats looked bewildered, as they had given up just three goals through seven games. And now Herndon had scored on them within eight minutes and now led 1-0.

“They were totally shocked and it was great,” Hornet defender Hannah Smagh said after the game. “It gives us confidence and if we can play like that, we can take on anybody.”

Smagh, Carly DeFord and Kailyn Deutrich formed a wall on defense for Herndon, shutting down anyone wearing a black jersey. This strategy left Centreville unable to penetrate through to the 18-yard-box for the first 24 minutes of play.

“I was pleased with the start because the past three games our first halves were not very good,” Herndon coach Nick Stames said. “But we said in pre-game we needed to come out, play hard, be aggressive and play with some urgency and they did that.”

However, controversy struck when the Wildcats took a corner kick and tied the game off a Lindsay Egbers goal with 15:57 left in the opening half.

“[The Ref] called a corner but the ball was out for a throw-in. [Centreville] put it down to play the corner and he had his back to the ball, then the ball went 10 yards,” Stames said. “He blew the whistle and our girls stopped and [Centreville] played. He clearly blew the whistle after the ball was put into play and if the whistle is blown while the ball is in play, you have got to replay the ball.”

Unfortunately for Stames and his team, his argument would not persuade the referee and the game remained tied at one apiece.

A more physical game took place in the second half. The Hornets battled but could not get their timing down on through passes in one-on-one situations.

Sydney Chervenic played great in goal for Herndon but Centreville was able to sneak two terrific shots past her in the second. Although Herndon lost, the team looked upbeat and rightfully so, held its shoulders up high in pride of its effort. Stames said he was proud of his players and district competition is always difficult in the Concorde.

“Anytime you play in a district game you know you’re going to be in a battle.”

Herndon plays at Robinson on April 13 at 7 p.m.