Soccer: Double Trouble! Broad Run Boys and Girls Claim State Tournament Spots

By Alanna Dvorak
Special to VivaLoudoun

Ashburn (June 3, 2011) - Broad Run High School claimed a pair of state playoff berths in boys and girls soccer following Region II semifinal wins Thursday.

The Spartan girls took the field first, defeating John Handley High School, 7-1, in convincing fashion.

All-district midfielder Ellie Zoepfl notched four goals for the Spartans, a personal single-game best.

Zoepfl attributes her game success to merely playing with a purpose. “Every game could be our last,” Zoepfl said.

Also scoring for the Spartans was Dulles District Player of the Year Whitney Church, sophomore Meredith Berger and freshman Jordi Harris.

“It’s nice to see our younger players maintain the level of play,” Broad Run coach Claire Collins said.

The Spartans (20-1) hope to earn their fourth consecutive state title this year. Broad Run will host Woodgrove in the region championship game June 3. Woodgrove (11-9-2) rallied past Freedom, 4-3, in overtime Thursday to advance to the title game.

The Broad Run boys soccer team battled district-rival Potomac Falls for the fourth time this season in their journey to the Region II final. In a contentious semifinal match, the host Spartans defeated the Panthers, 3-1.


“This has been a rival for 10 years, each of us competing against each other for championships,” said Spartan coach Jon Hicks. “But you have to give our boys credit. It’s tough to beat a team four times in one season.”

Co-Dulles District Player of the Year Kevin Reitzel scored all three of the Spartans’ goals, striking first with 34 minutes remaining in the first half. Potomac Falls’ Isaac Owusu responded at the 16-minute mark with a header to the back of the net.

The game remained stagnant until the second half, when Reitzel knocked in a pass from teammate Ryan Deutsch with 17 minutes remaining. Two minutes later, Reitzel was awarded a penalty kick after an in-play shove by a Panther defender and once again scored.

Reitzel has scored the Spartans‘ last five goals, notching both goals in Broad Run’s overtime victory against Western Albemarle May 31.

“I’m getting excellent balls from my teammates,” Reitzel said. “I’m just lucky to put them away.”

Tensions were elevated during the game, as both teams played a physical game. Three Potomac Falls players were ejected and several student fans were asked to leave the event.

“We just worry about our game,” Hicks said. “We try not to let emotion take over.”

The Spartans (20-1-1) face a hot Tuscarora team June 3 in the regional final before entering the state playoffs. Tuscarora (13-7-1) defeated Kettle Run, 2-1, in overtime in Thursday’s other semifinal game to earn a state tourney bid in the program’s first season.