Boys' Soccer
Goalie Conrad Leads Washington-Lee to National District Title
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Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Washington-Lee boys' soccer coach Jimmy Carrasquillo began the season with a dilemma that most coaches would welcome. He had to choose between two capable goalkeepers -- Luis Morotaya, who grew up in Guatemala playing goalie, or junior Michael Conrad.
Carrasquillo chose Conrad, in part, to capitalize on Morotaya's skills as a forward, and Conrad has responded by helping the Generals hold opponents to six goals in 13 games.
Nothing Conrad had done this season, however, validated Carrasquillo's choice more than his play last night, when he made five saves to help the ninth-ranked Generals survive a late surge by visiting Falls Church and win 1-0, claiming the Virginia AAA National District regular season title.
"I just had to maintain my focus and make sure we didn't make a mistake," Conrad said.
Washington-Lee (11-0-2, 5-0-1) completed its regular season undefeated and won its first district regular season title in seven seasons under Carrasquillo. The Generals will be the top seed in next week's district tournament, and Conrad is a main reason why.
"We have that luxury that we can put another kid [Morotaya] on the pitch and still have a great keeper," Carrasquillo said.
The sequence that resulted in the game-winning goal began in the 42nd minute, when Washington-Lee senior midfielder Collin Nicholas sent a pass to senior striker Mijael Vargas, who was sprinting down the right sideline. Vargas ran it down, took two touches and flicked a pass back to Nicholas near the top of the penalty area.
Nicholas lost the ball for a moment, but midfielder Miguel Ocampos hustled onto the scene and one-timed the ball into the goal from about 10 yards out.
Falls Church (7-2-2, 4-1-1) pushed forward after that and managed four quality shots in the final 16 minutes. Conrad's finest save came in the 64th minute, when he stopped an eight-yard blast by Jaguars forward Will Parker.
No. 9 Washington-Lee 1, Falls Church 0 Clean Sheets: Last night's shutout was Washington-Lee's ninth of the season. The Generals have allowed more than one goal in a game only once. Streak Stopped: Falls Church had gone six games without allowing a goal until last night.
