Broad Run girls wrap up third straight lacrosse title
By Carl Lukat
Broad Run held off a strong challenge from Potomac Falls May 1 to claim its third consecutive Dulles District girls' lacrosse title.
The Spartans scored the final five goals of the first half to build a four-goal halftime advantage and held on in the second half for a 9-6 victory.
“I've said for three years now that we have to win the [Dulles District] first, but it's a stepping stone to the next hurdle,” said Broad Run coach Jen Melhuish, whose team also won the Dulles and Region II tournament titles, and won a state quarterfinal round game in 2007.
Broad Run (8-0 in the district, 11-2 overall) received four goals from Meredith Rogers in Thursday's win. Aubrey Neuhart and Kate Sistare each netted two goals and Kailey Phillips scored once.
Katie Mesmer assisted on six of the Spartans' nine goals and goalie Allison Bogle notched nine saves. Melhuish credited Bogle with making 'amazing saves' during the game.
“Broad Run is a well coached team,” Panther coach Allan Dacanay said. “Coach Melhuish is a phenomenal coach and they are a phenomenal team. It's tough to stop Broad Run. You can make some adjustments, but they just come at you from a different angle.”
Potomac Falls (6-1, 10-2) suffered its first district loss of the season. Katie Baumgardner registered a hat trick for the Panthers, while Emma Ukleja, Denise Cordary and Stefani Werner each scored once. Cordary and Ukleja also dished out two assists each
“They have a strong team,” Melhuish said of the Panthers. “I was really impressed. Both them and Loudoun County gave us great games. It's fun, but stressful.”
The Spartans secured a berth in the Region II tournament as the regular season champs. Potomac Falls will attempt to qualify for regionals through the Dulles District tournament.
“If we can get to the [district tournament] championship game, that is just icing on the cake,” Dacanay said. “Our main goal was to come together as a team and come together as a family and I think we've done that. That's what I'm most proud of these girls for.”