Boys Soccer: Freshman Leads Cougars to Win

With one varsity practice under his belt, freshman Armand Jeffris became the hero in Oakton High's quest for redemption against Lake Braddock Secondary. 

Last season, the Cougars lost to the Bruins in the second round of the Northern Region tournament — a heartbreaking end for what Coach Todd Spitalny believed to be a state title-worthy team.

"That game just sits in our mind," Spitalny said. "That team last year is the one who should've gone to states. They took it from us. But tonight's game was mostly about this year, what this team can do."

Jeffris scored both of the Cougars' goals to defeat the Bruins 2-1.

Jeffris entered the game for injured senior forward Abdi Abdi with a few minutes left in the first half after the Bruins had already scored their only goal. He tied the game early in the second half on an assist from Jimmy Filerman. 

"I got a great assist from one of the outside players and it was an easy finish in front of the goal," 14-year-old Jeffris said. 

But he became the hero with about three minutes left in the game after he battled a Lake Braddock defender for possession, maneuvered his way past him and took the shot from about 25 yards away.

"I knew it was going in when I saw it come off his foot," Spitalny said. 

But Jeffris wasn't so sure: "No way, I didn't think it was going in. It was just too far," he laughed. 

Spitalny moved Jeffris up from junior varsity because most of his varsity forwards are suffering from injuries. He had seen Jeffris' ability to score and create chances in the two games he played on the junior varsity squad.

The Cougars may have tallied the win against the Bruins, but Spitalny still feels like redemption for last year's loss is still to come.

"It doesn't really solve the anger for any of us, but our focus was to come out and play great soccer and win, and we did that," Spitalny said. 

Jeffris' heroics is just one example of the Cougars' tendency to have a new player each game step up and have a big day — .  

Thursday's win sends the Cougars (4-1-1) into spring break with momentum for the start of Concorde District competition upon their return. They will travel to Herndon on April 10 for their first district game.