McLean Boys’ Soccer Falls to Cosby in Virginia Class 6 Championship
McLean High School’s boys’ soccer team saw its dream of a state championship come to an end on Saturday night, as they succumbed to Cosby High School 1-0 in the Virginia Class 6 championship. The game was a defensive battle from the outset, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. McLean came close in the first half when forward Luke Gannon fired a shot just wide of the post. Cosby, however, proved to be the more clinical team. In the 55th minute, midfielder Ethan Kline received a pass on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful strike that flew into the top corner of the net. McLean pushed hard for an equalizer in the remaining minutes, but Cosby’s defense stood firm. Despite having the bulk of possession, the Highlanders were unable to break down the Titans’ backline. “Cosby played a great game tonight,” said McLean head coach Rob Hahs. “They defended well and capitalized on their opportunity. We played hard but just couldn’t find the goal we needed.” The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for McLean, who had been hoping to capture their first state championship since 2015. However, the Highlanders can take solace in the fact that they had a successful season, finishing with a record of 13-5-2. “We’re proud of our boys for the effort they put in this season,” Hahs said. “They’ve worked hard all year and represented McLean well.” Cosby, meanwhile, celebrated their first-ever state championship in boys’ soccer. The Titans finished the season with a perfect 17-0 record. “This is an incredible feeling,” said Cosby head coach Ben Fields. “We’ve had a great season and I’m so proud of my players for their hard work and dedication.”McLean Boys’ Soccer Falls Short in State Championship
McLean Boys’ Soccer Falls Short in State Championship
RICHMOND, Va. — McLean boys’ soccer has routinely fought back from deficits this season. The Highlanders did that again on Saturday in their most important game of the year. After falling behind just before halftime, McLean found the back of the net in the second half to force overtime in the Virginia Class 6 championship in Richmond. The game remained tied through the first two overtime periods, but an undefeated Cosby team found a golden goal in the third. Cosby senior Deniss Hayes fired a free kick from just outside the box into the bottom corner to lift the Titans past McLean, 2-1. The Highlanders (17-3-2) were playing in the second state final in program history and the first since 1995. They earned their spot Friday with a 2-1 win over Gar-Field, but fell just short of their first state title after Cosby’s game-winner. “The heart in this team is amazing. We put together some of our best games when we’re down 1-0,” coach Leland Jameson said. “(They) have that kind of heart, desire, fight, and perseverance, and they showed that again today. I thought that after halftime we were the better team for the rest of the game. Sometimes the chips just don’t fall your way.” The Highlanders came close to an early lead with multiple set-piece opportunities but fell behind after Cosby senior Evan Gaines scored in the 38th minute. McLean played his way into the match as the second half progressed, eventually finding the equalizer in the 63rd minute. Junior Ada Karatepe dribbled into the penalty area and unleashed a shot that deflected off a defender and beat the goalkeeper to tie the game. The Highlanders used that goal to force extra time and did not concede in the first two overtime periods. But Cosby crushed their hopes in the third period. As it happened, McLean players fell to the ground as Cosby players ran past them from the bench to celebrate the golden goal. Saturday’s loss was the Highlanders’ third of the season. Their only other losses were a pair of regular-season losses to Herndon, losses they avenged last month with a 3-2 victory over the Hornets in the Class 6 Region D championship. McLean could have played the Hornets for the fourth time, but Herndon lost 3-0 to Cosby in the other Class 6 semifinal on Friday. The Highlanders kept it much closer against the undefeated Titans. McLean used last season’s district final defeat as fuel to reach its first state championship game in 29 years this spring. Jameson believes Saturday’s loss can serve the same purpose: inspiring next year’s group. “We used (the district finals loss) as a fire all season. Every training session we were talking about unfinished business,” Jameson said. ‘Now that I’m here, I’m sure they all feel the pain. So we remember that, save it, and come back next year.”McLean High School’s boys soccer team fell to Cosby High School in the Virginia Class 6 championship game on Saturday, June 11. The final score was 2-1, with McLean scoring its lone goal in the second half. Cosby took an early lead in the first half, but McLean managed to tie the game before halftime. In the second half, Cosby scored the game-winning goal with just over 10 minutes remaining. McLean had a number of chances to tie the game in the final minutes, but could not find the back of the net. The loss was a disappointing end to a successful season for McLean, which finished with a record of 16-4-1. The team was led by senior forward Andrew Gutman, who was named the Virginia Player of the Year. Cosby, meanwhile, finished the season with a perfect record of 20-0. The team was led by senior midfielder Jake Rozhdestvenskiy, who was named the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year. The Virginia Class 6 championship game was played at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
