Yorktown senior Elizabeth Oden converted a penalty kick against Washington-Lee in the National District championship game on May 17 at Greenbrier Stadium. Photo by Louise Krafft.
Arlington — With her right nostril stuffed to stop a 10-minute nosebleed, Yorktown senior Elizabeth Oden drilled a penalty kick into the back of the net with less than 20 minutes remaining in the National District girls’ soccer championship game.
In the 68th minute, Meghan Flynn, her right knee and elbow bandaged after falling to the turf, scored an insurance goal.
It took some blood and sweat, but the Yorktown girls’ soccer team captured its third consecutive National District title with a 4-0 victory over Washington-Lee on May 17 at Greenbrier Stadium. Junior midfielder Alex Puletti gave the Patriots an early lead with a goal in the sixth minute and Yorktown padded its advantage with three goals in the final 20 minutes.
“It feels fantastic,” Oden said. “It’s senior year, this is the third year in a row we’ve won and it’s just so nice to go out with a bang, especially against our rival, W-L.”
While three consecutive district championships is a notable achievement, the Patriots are searching for more. Last season, Yorktown fell one win shy of the state tournament, losing to Stone Bridge 4-2 in the Northern Region semifinals. This season, head coach Vicky Brunt said the Patriots have been preparing throughout for what they will face deep in the postseason — something that could separate this year’s team from past Yorktown squads.
“I think they’ve been sort of talking and trying to prepare for [the postseason] as best they can. That can be different because in some of the years past, we’re worried about trying to get the district title and then take it one game at a time. Well, these guys, they’re trying to mentally prepare themselves to go that step further.”
— Yorktown girls’ soccer coach Vicky Brunt
“I think they’ve been sort of talking and trying to prepare for [the postseason] as best they can,” Brunt said. “That can be different because in some of the years past, we’re worried about trying to get the district title and then take it one game at a time. Well, these guys, they’re trying to mentally prepare themselves to go that step further.
“We’ve been talking about if you don’t start talking about it and thinking about it and realizing it from the beginning of the season, it’s likely not going to happen when you get there. But if we talk about it and we prepare for it, then we can be ready for it.”
Yorktown's 2013 Northern Region tournament run begins at 7 p.m. today against Langley at Greenbrier Stadium.
Against W-L, Puletti’s goal gave Yorktown a 1-0 advantage it would carry into the second half. Oden scored on a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, Flynn added a goal in the 68th minute, and junior forward Emma Shumway capped the scoring with a goal in the 77th minute.
With the victory, Yorktown’s record improved to 17-1, including 10-0 against National District opponents. The Patriots outscored their district foes 58-1.
Does Yorktown have something to prove coming out of district perceived as weak?
“Yorktown doesn’t always get the recognition,” Flynn said, “which is fine because this year we’re here to prove it.”
Said Oden: “They’ll underestimate us, and we’ll get them.”
Flynn, a junior forward, received the National District Player of the Year award. Flynn, Shumway, Puletti, senior midfielder Innis Hitt and senior defender Natalie Abraham each received first-team alldistrict honors for Yorktown. Oden and senior defender Jane Leonard received second-team honors.