Girls Lacrosse: Loudoun Valley's Fast Start Against Heritage Secures Northwest Region Bid

Special to VivaLoudoun

(May 18, 2011) - On a cool, overcast evening, the Loudoun Valley High School girls lacrosse team played host to Cedar Run District rival Heritage in a district tournament semifinal game with a Northwest Region bid on the line and the Vikes stormed away with a 24-5 victory.

Almost a carbon copy of their first two games against Heritage during the regular season, Valley’s offense struck early and often as it scored four consecutive goals in the first six minutes of the first half to take a 4-0 lead.

Four different players would score for Valley. The Pride would respond with a goal from junior Laura Nibbelink with a nice assist from sophomore Samantha Fox to cut the lead to 4-1 at the 18:12 mark. However, Valley would outscore Heritage 8-0 over the next 13:30 to stretch their lead to 12-1 with 4:37 left in the first half.

The Pride would outscore the Vikings 2-1 over the remainder of the first half to trail 13-3 at halftime.

A total of 10 different Vikings would score in the first half. Heritage senior goalkeeper Alison Dietze would face a total of 25 shots on goal in the first half from Valley -- while Valley’s junior goalkeeper Maggie Beglau would face only eight shots on goal.

The key in the first half was Valley’s ability to control the ground balls and draws. Valley’s passing and offensive movement looked crisp this game. The Vikings would have ten assists in the first half.

The second half saw the same type of domination from Valley as the Vikings controlled the draws and ground balls. The Vikings would fire thirteen shots at the Pride’s goalkeepers, A. Dietze and sophomore Sarah Bigler, in the second half, scoring eleven times. Seven different players contributed to the scoring.

The Vikings passing continued to look crisp in the second half as they had eleven assists. Valley’s defense played another strong half in front of senior goalkeeper Kelsey Luck, limiting the Pride to just five shots. The Pride would score twice more.

The win improves Valley’s overall record to 13-2. Valley was led in scoring by A. Mustacchio with eight goals and C. Khosla with three goals. Heritage was led in scoring by L. Nibbelink with three goals. As a team, Loudoun Valley scored 24 goals on 38 shots while Heritage scored 5 goals on 13 shots.

Thursday, May 19, the Vikes travel to Haymarket to play top seeded Battlefield High School at 5:30 pm for the Cedar Run District Championship.