Lake Braddock Scores Late to Earn Tie

For nearly all of this season, one goal has been enough for No. 9 South County, which had eight shutouts in 10 games this season entering last night's crucial Virginia AAA Patriot District contest with Lake Braddock.

And for 77 minutes at home on senior night against the Bruins, it seemed it would be again.

But with just more than three minutes left on the clock, and with a regular season district title and automatic Northern Region berth within reach, Lake Braddock's Emmanuel Kassim got on the end of a cross, brought it down with his thigh, took a touch and finished it to help the Bruins salvage a 1-1 tie in Lorton.

"It's always tough," to give up a lead late, South County senior Max Kleess said. "But I feel like if we would have pressured more offensively, offense is always the best defense, and we didn't do that."

Kleess had given the Stallions (9-1-1, 5-1-1) the lead with 23 minutes remaining in the first half with a neatly placed ball in the upper right corner of the net. In the second half, South County sat back in a defensive formation and left Kleess alone up top.

The result was a game that featured very little action near either net, a style that seemed to favor a South County team that had made its living on defense -- its five goals allowed this season came in its only loss, a 3-0 defeat to T.C. Williams, and a 4-2 victory over Hayfield.

But after play was stopped for an injury late in the game, the referee awarded Lake Braddock a free kick, and the ensuing cross found Kassim on top of the box.

South County defenders raised their hands for offside, but no flag went up and Kassim buried the opportunity.

The result puts Lake Braddock (6-1-4, 5-1-1) in position to secure the top seed in the district tournament should the Bruins beat Hayfield on Saturday, according to South County Coach Erich Gunderman.

"Hopefully we learn a lesson and carry it on into the playoffs," Gunderman said. "And realize that we've got to stay concentrated for the whole 80 minutes and we don't have time to relax."

No. 9 South County 1 Lake Braddock 1 He Shoots, He Scores: Before the game, South County's Max Kleess used the South County scoreboard to ask a date to the prom. At halftime, the PA announcer told the crowd the answer -- it was yes. Offense Is Cooled Off: Since opening the season with three ties in four games, Lake Braddock had won five of six before last night's draw and had been averaging three goals per game.