Boys Soccer: Broad Run Beats PFalls in Region II Title Game on Foster's "Golden Goal"

(June 6, 2010) - The Broad Run High School and Potomac Falls boys soccer teams picked up Saturday right where they left off Friday ... battling to a scoreless standstill and it wasn't until a second overtime period that the Region II title game was decided on a controversial goal by junior defender Tom Foster.

Foster's "Golden Goal" came in sudden death on a corner kick by senior Danny Reategui that just went through the out-stretched hands of Panther keeper Ryan Howard and made its way to the far side of the penalty area where the ball was chipped back in by junior Taylor Johnson. A wild scramble ensued as the ball hit off the left post and Foster charging in the right post was able to body the ball into the net.

The Panthers argued fruitlessly that Foster's arms were out-stretched and he illegally put the ball into the net but the officials, after a brief conference, allowed the goal to stand, touching off a Spartan celebration.

Just a week ago the same two teams went scoreless into the second half before weather suspended the game and the teams were declared Dulles District tournament co-champions. Last year Potomac Falls defeated Broad Run on a Golden Goal in the Region II title game and then a week later beat the Spartans in the AA state semifinals. The two teams have now played an amazing nine games in less than two full seasons, five of those in the postseason.

When the regional title game was suspended Friday night by weather with 30:31 left, the two teams waited 24 hours before picking up. Broad Run had the better chances, hitting the crossbar twice in regulation but the score was 0-0 into and after a 10-minute overtime period. It was early into the sudden death 10-minute overtime that the Spartans scored. The corner kick came after Broad Run had a free kick just outside of the 18, a free kick that took an unusually long time to take after the Potomac Falls wall was moved back and the Broad Run offense, still wanting a full 10 yards, refused to take the kick and were accessed a yellow card for delay. When the kick was finally taken it was deflected over the end line for a Spartan corner.

Broad Run will host Courtland on Tuesday, most likely at 7 p.m. in a AA state quarterfinal while Potomac Falls travels to Jamestown. Courtland fell to Jamestown on penalty kicks, 5-4, on Friday after a scoreless tie through two overtimes.