Bulldogs Take a Bite Out Of The Titans
Freshman Murielle Tiernan, another rising star on the Lady Bulldogs' team, scored the first goal of the game as well as getting an assist later on, to help the Bulldogs claim their first ever AAA State Title in girls soccer...
Photo By: Michael 'Moe' Murphy / GamedayMagazine | VIEW GALLERY
Freshmen sensation Ashley Herndon, the Bulldogs leading scorer (29 goals) put two shots into the back of the net in their 4-0 victory...
Photo By: Michael 'Moe' Murphy / GamedayMagazine | VIEW GALLERY
STORY BY: MICHAEL 'MOE' MURPHY
CHANTILLY, VA - Under a blazing sun with an impending storm on the horizon, the Stonebridge Bulldog Girls Varsity Soccer team captured the school's first AAA State Girls Soccer Championship defeating the Cosby Titans 4-0 at Bulldog Stadium on the campus of Westfield High School.
The Bulldogs and Titans battled to a stalemate for nearly 30 minutes when Stonebridge (21-0-2) got on the board as a flurry of shots in the Cosby (19-3-1) box resulted in a Titan defender deflecting the ball into their own goal in the 29th minute.
Freshmen sensation Ashley Herndon, the Bulldogs leading scorer (29 goals) put two shots into the back of the net. The first, with an assist from another freshman rising star Muriel Tiernan in the 47th minute. Tiernan had an assist and a goal in the Bulldogs semi final win over Frank Cox. Herndon came back three minutes later for her second goal as the Titan keeper charged out and Herndon was able to lob a shot over her and tap the ball in for an unassisted goal, her 4th in 2 games.
"Ashley [Herndon], and Muriel [Tiernan] have received so much attention, but this was a total team effort, Bulldog Head Coach Joan Windows said. "Our defense gave up nothing, and they setup our scores."
The Bulldogs defense pitched two shutouts at Westfield and dominated possession in both matches. The defense anchored by Jennifer Skogerboe , Jazmyn Ervins, and Emily Fredrickson took the pressure off keeper Julia Harmison, who let nothing through the pipes in two games and helped to preserve the shutout with two diving saves near the end of the game.
Skogerboe, a senior, will continue her education at the University of Connecticut and will play for the Huskies soccer team.
"We have been working for this all season." Herndon said. "Our seniors led us to championship and we are looking forward to coming back next year."
The Bulldogs got their fourth goal when Sarah Bowers blasted in a rebound in the 64th minute as the Bulldogs were able to bring their starters out one at a time for well deserved recognitions.
Two VHSL State Soccer trophies will be on the way to Ashburn, as the Broad Run Spartans girls captured the AA crown in Radford with a 2-0 victory of the Loudoun County Raiders.
