Category Archives: Soccer

06.01.18 Girls Soccer: Potomac Falls @ Briar Woods, Region 5C Final

06.01.18 Girls Soccer: Potomac Falls @ Briar Woods, Region 5C Final
Ashburn, VA (June 1, 2018) – The regular season difference between the Briar Woods Falcons and the Potomac Falls Panthers was almost imperceptible. The Falcons finished on top with a 11-1-2 district record, but their only loss had been at the hands of the Panthers, who had finished right behind at 11-2-1. Chas Sumser Photography was…
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06.01.18 Boys Soccer: Wakefield @ Briar Woods, Region 5C Final

06.01.18 Boys Soccer: Wakefield @ Briar Woods, Region 5C Final
Ashburn, VA (June 1, 2018) – In a regional championship game, you really don't expect to see a team with a regular season record of 5-12-2 on one side of the field. But that's exactly the record that the Wakefield Warriors brought to this game against the Briar Woods Falcons, who finished their regular season at…
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05.30.18 Girls Soccer: Stone Bridge @ Briar Woods, Region 5C Semifinal

05.30.18 Girls Soccer: Stone Bridge @ Briar Woods, Region 5C Semifinal
Brambleton, VA (May 30, 2018) – The Briar Woods Falcons earned their top seed and home field advantage in the Region 5C girls soccer playoffs amassing a 12-1-2 regular season record that dwarfed that of their opponent, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs. However, finishing with a modest 7-7-2 did not prevent Stone Bridge from performing well in…
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05.16.18 Boys Soccer: Park View @ Loudoun Valley

05.16.18 Boys Soccer: Park View @ Loudoun Valley
Lansdowne, VA (May 16, 2018) – By the time pre-game player introductions began the Loudoun Valley Vikings and the Park View Patriots were already soaking wet. Rain had come down throughout warmups, but that precipitation and the forecast for more would not dampen the competitive spirit of the two teams. After all, only the regular season…
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05.15.18 Girls Soccer: Potomac Falls @ Tuscarora

05.15.18 Girls Soccer: Potomac Falls @ Tuscarora
Leesburg, VA (May 15, 2018) – With darkening skies threatening to delay or cancel this final game of the 2018 regular season, the Potomac Falls Panthers (12-2-1) traveled to Leesburg for a match with the Tuscarora Huskies (10-2-3). The outcome of the game would not affect the Huskies' third place standing in the Potomac District, but…
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05.10.18 Girls Soccer: Tuscarora @ Briar Woods

05.10.18 Girls Soccer: Tuscarora @ Briar Woods
Brambleton, VA (May 10, 2018) – The Tuscarora Huskies (10-1-2) and Briar Woods Falcons (9-1-2) girls soccer teams entered this game with nearly identical seasons behind them. They had played once before, and the Falcons had won easily, 4-1, at Tuscarora. But this is playoff time, and both teams needed to demonstrate that they were ready…
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05.10.18 Boys Soccer: Tuscarora @ Briar Woods

05.10.18 Boys Soccer: Tuscarora @ Briar Woods
Brambleton, VA (May 10, 2018) – Briar Woods (12-1) was clearly the favorite as they hosted Tuscarora (8-5-1) in a late season tuneup for the playoffs. In the midst of an eleven-game winning streak, the Falcons had already beaten the Huskies once, 2-0, just three weeks ago. Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action…
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2017.06.10 Boys Soccer: Riverside @ Blacksburg, 3A State Final

2017.06.10 Boys Soccer: Riverside @ Blacksburg, 3A State Final
Salem, VA (June 10, 2017) – No one would have blamed the Riverside Rams if they had just phoned it in today. After a grueling four-overtime semifinal victory less than twenty-four hours before this match began an exhausted team was what they had to offer to the Blacksburg Bruins. From the start the Bruins looked fresher, but…
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2017.06.06 Boys Soccer: Spotswood @ Riverside, 3A State Semifinal

2017.06.06 Boys Soccer: Spotswood @ Riverside, 3A State Semifinal
Salem, VA (June 9, 2017) – As opposed to the earlier match for the Riverside Rams girls soccer team, the boys version was the favorite in this state semifinal match. Even when you say that, however, that doesn't mean the other team isn't ready to play. And ready they were. While the Rams had the possession edge, the…
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2017.06.06 Girls Soccer: Riverside @ Western Albemarle, 3A State Semifinal

2017.06.06 Girls Soccer: Riverside @ Western Albemarle, 3A State Semifinal
Salem, VA (June 9, 2017) – The day broke with much promise for the Riverside Rams. Playing in their first ever state semifinal, could they upset the top-seeded Warriors from Western Albemarle? Sporting a record of 20-2 entering the match, the Warriors were clearly the favorite. But, for much of the first half of this match--played in beautiful Salem,…
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2017.06.02 Boys Soccer: York @ Riverside, 3A East Semifinal

2017.06.02 Boys Soccer: York @ Riverside, 3A East Semifinal
Lansdowne, VA (June 2, 2017) – Their previous match had been a cakewalk so the Riverside Rams had not yet been tested in their first ever regional tournament. Would the York Falcons provide stiffer competition? Although the Rams dominated possession, the Falcons were clearly a better prepared side at every position than the previous opponent. Riverside had…
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2017.06.01 Boys Soccer: Thomas Jefferson @ Riverside, 3A East Quarterfinal

2017.06.01 Boys Soccer: Thomas Jefferson @ Riverside, 3A East Quarterfinal
Lansdowne, VA (June 1, 2017) – Before the game even started, the Riverside Rams were ahead. Well, technically, the scoreboard reflected the goal scored in the first eight minutes played two days ago--before the match was called due to inclement weather. If you trend that out--one goal per eight minutes--would the final score be 10-0? Troy Jackson (10)…
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2017.05.29 Girls Soccer: Woodgrove @ John Champe, 4A West Quarterfinal

2017.05.29 Girls Soccer: Woodgrove @ John Champe, 4A West Quarterfinal
Aldie, VA (May 29, 2017) – No matter what the sport, pairing two Loudoun teams in regional playoffs is sure to be a good matchup. The host John Champe Knights had a slightly better record--and  higher seed--then the visiting Woodgrove Wolverines, but not by much. The lower seed didn't matter as the Wolverines jumped in front with…
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2017.05.26 Boys Soccer: James Monroe @ Riverside, Conf. 28 Final

2017.05.26 Boys Soccer: James Monroe @ Riverside, Conf. 28 Final
Lansdowne, VA (May 26, 2017) – Entering the match for the Conference 28 Championship, both the host Riverside Rams and the visiting James Monroe Yellow Jackets had won two playoff games. The Rams had a slightly easier route, beating the eighth and fifth seeds, while the Jackets had to upset the second seeded William Monroe to get…
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2017.05.24 Boys Soccer: Park View @ Heritage, Conf. 21B Final

2017.05.24 Boys Soccer: Park View @ Heritage, Conf. 21B Final
Leesburg, VA (May 24, 2017) – When the Park View Patriots visited the Heritage Pride for last year's conference final they launched their voyage to the 4A state championship. Almost exactly one year later, for which team would this rematch provide a similar boost? Almost before the fans could settle into their soggy bleacher seats, Heritage's Gabe Splett scored on a breakaway…
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2017.05.11 Boys Soccer: Riverside @ Park View

2017.05.11 Boys Soccer: Riverside @ Park View
Sterling, VA (May 11, 2017) – The Riverside Rams entered the game confidently behind an unblemished 14-0-2 regular season record. Their test would be against the Park View Patriots, the 2016 4A State Champions also sporting an outstanding record at 11-2-0. The match might not matter much in terms of playoff seeding, but it certainly would give…
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2016.07.14 Special: Best of 2015-16 High School Sports

2016.07.14 Special: Best of 2015-16 High School Sports
Ashburn, VA (July 14, 2016) – It's been a true privilege to photograph high school sports in Loudoun County for the last four years. I've witnessed breathtaking moments, heartbreaking disappointments, thrilling victories, and stunning upsets. I've seen great team victories and brilliant individual championships. I've sat in a field bundled up waiting for cross country racers to…
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2016.06.11 Girls Soccer: Mills Godwin @ Tuscarora, 5A State Final

2016.06.11 Girls Soccer: Mills Godwin @ Tuscarora, 5A State Final
Fairfax, VA (June 11, 2016) – As the final representative from Loudoun County high schools, the Tuscarora Huskies girls soccer team was one of the eight in all sports that made it all the way to the 2016 VHSL championship game. Their opponent, the feisty Mills Godwin Eagles, were waiting. Chas Sumser was there to cover the…
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