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Madison girls lacrosse team nips Oakton in region-tourney final

Both Warhawks and Cougars advance to the Class 6 state tournament
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The Madison High School girls lacrosse team gathers wth the region championship banner and trophies.

It was suggested beforehand the winner of this season’s girls region-championship match would be the team that possessed the ball last.

That proved correct.

In a close high-school game, the host Madison Warhawks (12-4) nipped the Oakton Cougars, 9-8, the evening of May 26 in the title match of the 6D North Region tournament. The region crown was Madison’s first since 2018 and the win was the fifth in a row for the Warhawks.

The teams had met two other times this season with each earning a victory in what also were close matches, one another one-game decision.

“Good poise has become our poison and that’s where this team has gotten and what we had tonight,” Madison coach Jean Counts said. “We had only four starters back from last season, so we have had to learn to prepare correctly and play together over time. There has been a lot of growth.”

Madison built a quick 2-0 lead in the region final, and was ahead 7-3. Oakton    (17-2) then rallied to tied the match at 7. The Warhawks then took a 9-7 lead, and after Oakton cut the score to 9-8, the Madison gained possession and ran out the clock.

The Cougars’ only two losses this season have been against Madison.

Veronica Counts scored three goals for Madison in the region final; Ava Dirth and Breanna McVicker netted two each; while Tess Satterfield, Elizabeth Casto and Kylie O’Connell had one each. Madison goalie Jessica Bae made six saves.

“We were a slow-starting team this season be we have learned to work together, overcome mistakes, we have turned to each other and have built a lot of confidence,” Veronica Counts said. “A lot of our players have played lacrosse together for a long times, so this team is hungry.”

For Oakton, Alexis Reese scored five goals, Riley Sweeney had two and Caralie Basuel one. Reese and Allison Calder each had assists. Oakton goalie Sydney Connors made eight saves.

Madison was 3-0 in the region tourney, defeating Washington-Liberty, 17-7, in the first round and rallying to edge defending region and Class 6 state champion Yorktown, 11-9, in the semifinals.

In that semifinal win, after scoring its 11th goal with just more than 9 minutes to play, Madison successfuly ran out the clock by keeping possession for the final seven minutes or so without taking another shot on goal.

Oakton was 2-1 in the tourney, routing  the McLean Highlanders, 17-4, in the first round then downing Centreville, 9-5, in the semifnals.

By being the region finalists, Madison and Oakton each advance to the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state tournament, with first-round matches on June 2. It’s possible the teams could meet again in the state semifinals.

NOTES: Madison is 5-0 in the postseason so far, having won the Concorde District tournament prior to the region competition. In that district-tourney final, Madison nipped Oakton, 10-9, in the title match.