By Dan Sousa:
Park View 2, Broad Run 2 (OT)
AA Dulles District boys soccer played May 6, 2008
Ashburn (May 8, 2008) – Call it an elmination match as the Broad Run High School boys soccer team hosted Park View Tuesday night in a key AA Dulles District game that both teams needed to win in order to stay in the title hunt. And in the end, both were basically eliminated as the Patriots and Spartans battled to a 2-2 tie through overtime.
District leader Heritage (9-1-2) now needs only a tie in one of its two remaining matches to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the district tournament and an automatic Region II bid. If the Pride can win one of their last two, they will also take the district title by themselves as both Broad Run (7-2-3) and Park View (7-2-3) sit more than a game back.
Despite playing against No. 2 ranked Stone Bridge the night before, it was Broad Run that came out with the most energy Tuesday and the Spartans never trailed in the match, taking a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on a header by junior Onari Tariah.
“We just didn’t come out to play. We didn’t have the ‘oomph’,” said Park View coach Arturo Jimenez. “You have to give it to Broad Run . They took us off our game a little bit.”
Park View tied it in the 29th minute on a goal by junior Eddy Zelaya but BR was able to take a 2-1 lead into the half when freshman Kevin Reitzel pushed in from midfield and headed a ball in during the losing seconds of the first half.
The Spartans had numerous chances to extend the lead in the second half but couldn’t find the back of the net. Broad Run coach Jonathan Hicks thinks his team is close to a breakthrough that will allow them to put more goals on the scoreboard.
“I honestly believe the time is coming. We possess the ball and get forward and cause more problems than any other team in the district,” said Hicks.
Park View finally broke free with 25:35 remaining, with junior Tranzito Zelaya rifling a shot that was headed for the goal when senior Andres Contreras ran onto it and made sure it was going in.
Late in the game, a Park View defender at the near post on a corner kick saved a sure goal by blocking the ball back into play.
In overtime, Park View failed to find the possession that the Patriots need to advance the ball forward and at times, the Patriots seem to lose their patience.
“We can’t play a kick ball game. That’s not our game,” said Jimenez.
Broad Run, with height and the ability to play long balls, also maintained a good amount of possession in the game, stringing together passes through the midfield.
Both Contreras and Broad Run’s Spencer Martin were shown red cards after a tussle near the Patriot bench in overtime.
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