Conner, Saints Need Extra Effort

As a long hit headed through Georgetown Visitation's circle with five minutes left in the first half yesterday, St. Stephen's/St. Agnes senior Emily Conner sprinted toward the ball with what seemed like little chance of reaching it.

But when Visitation's goalie and the nearest defender stopped, as though each thought the other would clear it away, Conner accelerated with one thought in mind: "I have to get it in."

She was right. Top-ranked St. Stephen's/St. Agnes eventually needed that goal, Conner's second of the game, to hold off Georgetown Visitation for a 2-1 win at Episcopal, giving the Saints their seventh straight Independent School League tournament title.

Afterward, St. Stephen's/St. Agnes Coach Marsha Way said she was not surprised by Conner's effort on what proved to be the game-winner.

"That's been Emily throughout the season," Way said. "She scored four goals against Bullis [in the ISL semifinals] and they were college-level goals. She doesn't stop on the ball. Emily has finished all season."

At the time of the goal, the Saints (19-0-1) appeared to have the game well in hand. Georgetown Visitation (10-5-2) didn't manage a single shot in the first half and St. Stephen's/St. Agnes kept the ball on the Cubs' side of the field for most of the first 30 minutes.

The coronation became a contest, however, when Georgetown Visitation's attack came alive in the second half and led to a goal by junior Baihly Underhill with more than 23 minutes remaining.

"We worked so hard to get here," Underhill said, "so I knew [a comeback] had to be possible."

The Cubs continued to dominate possession over the next 15 minutes, and when both coaches were asked about the contrast between the first and second halves, Way faulted herself for making a few defensive changes, and Georgetown Visitation Coach Karen Zarchin credited her team's effort.

"I wish I could say there was some magic formula, but at this level, it's about the kids believing in themselves," Zarchin said. "And once we got the first half out of us, I think we had the ball in their [side of the field] for maybe 80 percent of the second half. And that was just, they just willed it. We just woke up a little too late."

The Cubs had a series of four penalty corners in a row with 14 minutes remaining, but they could never come up with an equalizer.

As a result, Conner said St. Stephen's/St. Agnes heads into the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association tournament even more "pumped up" than before.

"Sometimes close games are exactly what you need," she said, "to let you know that you're not untouchable. You've still got to work hard every minute of the game."

No. 1 St. Steph./St. Ag. 2 Georgetown Visitation 1 Deja Vu: Emily Conner also scored two goals in the 2006 ISL championship game, shortly after being called up from the junior varsity. St. Stephen's/St. Agnes beat National Cathedral that year, 3-1. Up Next: St. Stephen's/St. Agnes, the defending VISAA champion, opens that tournament as the top seed tomorrow at home. Georgetown Visitation's season is complete.