Leesburg, VA (May 15, 2023) - The last time the Tuscarora Huskies met the Broad Run Spartans it was in the 2022 VHSL Class 4 state championship game. This time, the stakes weren't quite as high as that, but they were certainly as big as they get heading into the postseason. The winner of this game would take the regular season Dulles District title, earn the top seed in the district playoffs, and own a spot in the Region 4C tournament.
Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.
Broad Run was clearly the aggressor to start the match, pushing deep into the Tuscarora defensive end repeatedly only to be shut down by the Huskies defense. Finally, in the 12th minute, Broad Run's Sasha Zuckerman broke free on the left flank and got by Tuscarora outside back Julia Morris. By that time, Zuckerman was one-on-one with keeper Natalie Tikalsky, who could not stop a slicing shot into the lower right corner. Suddenly, and quickly, the Spartans had a 1-0 lead.
The goal was a catalyst for Tuscarora, and the home team started to tilt the field the other way. Pressure was building on Spartan keeper Mara Dufour, but she consistently met the challenge, and it looked like the half would end without additional scoring. But with time running out, a cross from the left side found a waiting Addison Borakove who slotted it home to tie the score at halftime, 1-1.
After the break, Broad Run again had the advantage. The Spartans had numerous threatening chances including a shot from Zuckerman that hit the crossbar midway through the period. Again, Tuscarora ramped up the intensity as the half progressed, creating more chances inside the Spartan penalty area as the end of regulation approached. But neither team scored, and the game headed to overtime.
Overtime periods are short and quick, and more often than not they end it ties, but the Huskies had other ideas on this night. With renewed energy--even higher than they had shown all night--Tuscarora seniors Lauren Mattingley and Mia Serna immediately scored back-to-back goals to break the game wide open and ensure victory and all that cames with it. Ironically, the final result was the exact opposite of last year's state championship game.
Final Score: Tuscarora 3 - Broad Run 1
