Boys Soccer: Tuscarora Slides to Dulles Tournament Title with 2-0 Win over Briar Woods

Ashburn (May 25, 2012) - After securing the first Dulles District tournament title in Tuscarora High School's short two-year history with a 2-0 win at Briar Woods, the Huskies boys soccer team, held hands at midfield, sprinted as a group and splashed their way in head first slid-and-slide celebration towards the team bench.

Tuscarora (16-2-2), with just one senior on its roster, got goals from sophomore Edgar Resendiz with 3:11 left in the first half, which was played in a constant rain, and a goal from junior Armando Grazon with 25:13 left in the contest.

"It's great to win the first district tournament championship in the history of the school," said Tuscarora coach Dave Gryder. "It shows the amount of work they have put in as a team since November."


The Husky student section, which didn't let a first half steady rain dampen their enthusiasm, cheered the Huskies on as they posed with the district tournament banner and the team, soaking up the win, slid again across the field towards a corner flag. They might have kept sliding on the field if Briar Woods AD Jerry Carter didn't urge them to head towards the bus.

"You can tell we are young," said Gryder as the team slid on the grass behind him.

Briar Woods (16-2-2) came in as the district's top seed after beating Tuscarora a week ago in penalty kicks in a one-game playoff after the Falcons and Huskies finished tied for the regular-season title.

"(Losing to them in penalty kicks) gave us a little bit of drive to try and come back from that tonight," said Gryder.

Tuscarora was able to weather the wet playing conditions in the first half better than Briar Woods and only four great saves by Falcon keeper Nick Der-Hacopian kept it from being a Tuscarora runaway at the half. Resendiz's left footed blast to the far post from 15 yards out finally put the Huskies on the scoreboard.

With the two teams having faced each other four times already this season, things got a little chippy in the second half with several yellow cards handed out. Gryder wouldn't be surprised if Tuscarora and Briar Woods met a fifth time in the Region II tournament next week.

"Usually the hardest thing is getting out of our district," said Gryder.