There was a festive feeling leading up to Centreville’s non-district boys’ soccer game against visiting McLean High on April 24.
The Wildcats, under coach Bruce Cochran, were honoring their five 12th graders during pre-game Senior Night ceremonies.
Those Centreville seniors who were recognized prior to the game were co-captains Brandon Chu (striker) and Steven Liane (goalie), as well as midfielder Geoff Hull, defender Luis Luna and midfielder Kevin Maslyn.
While the pre-game celebratories were uplifting, the Wildcats, when the game began, found themselves in a tough match against McLean, which controlled a majority of the play. In the end, neither team could find the net in what turned out to be a scoreless overtime tie.
With the deadlock, Centreville held a 3-3-3 overall record heading into this week.
Centreville’s best scoring chance came in the first half when, following a free kick ball off the foot of junior defender Matt Cochran, teammate Chu was pulled down by a McLean player as he was looking to move the ball towards the goal from the right side.
The result was a penalty kick try for Chu, with 14 minutes left in the first half.
The solid PK try looked as if it might land high into the right side of the net. But the ball caromed off the post and rebounded out of harms way, as relieved McLean goal tender Brian Ellenberger looked on.
The missed opportunity was a bit of bad fortune for the Wildcats and Chu, who a year from now will be attending Louisana State University.
Immediately following the penalty kick try, McLean quickly took the ball down field and nearly scored when midfielder Niema Touhidi scorched a crossing shot from 15 yards out from the left side side. But the ball was a little wide right of its mark.
<b>IN THE SECOND HALF</b>, Centreville’s best scoring chance came on a long range shot attempt by sophomore midfielder Calder Street. Meanwhile, the aggressive Highlanders got several chances, although none particularly outstanding, off of rushes to the net or medium range shots.
McLean continued to apply the pressure in the first five minute OT session, without success. The game ultimately ended following a second five minutes of scoreless OT.
Centreville goalie Linane, who has narrowed down his college options to Va. Tech and the University of Maryland, played a super game, along with his defensive teammates, in holding McLean (3-7-1) scoreless.
McLean, which entered the Centreville game following a 3-2 Liberty District loss to Marshall, had undergone a grueling, team-bonding workout the day before playing the Wildcats, according to McLean coach Mike Anderson.
As a result, McLean looked like a refreshed and hungry team in the tie against Centreville.
“We just lost two in a row, but came back tonight and dominated their team,” said McLean senior midfielder/forward Patrick Meagher, who was one of the game’s better players over the 80 minutes of action. “It wasn’t a district game. [Centreville] lost to [Northern Region power] Westfield just 1-0. I feel like we can compete with anyone.”
McLean’s lone district win came over visiting Madison, 2-0, on April 3. In its district losses, the Highlanders have fallen in close games to Stone Bridge, 1-0, a vastly improved South Lakes team, 2-1, Marshall, 3-2, and Woodson, 2-1. The only district setback that was not close on the scoreboard was the team’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of defending Virginia State AAA champion Jefferson on April 11.
The team’s best non-district showing might have been a 2-2 tie at Westfield, a member of the Concorde District, on April 9.
Centreville’s wins this spring have come over West Springfield, 2-0, Oakton, 4-0, and Lee, 2-0. Its ties have been against South County, in the season opener, Woodson and McLean. All three ties were scoreless. And the team’s losses have come to Stone Bridge, 3-0, Westfield, 1-0, and Robinson, 4-0.
The Wildcats are scheduled toto play a Concorde District road game at Herndon this Friday night at 7.