Tabb repeats as Class 3 Region A boys soccer champs, but the Tigers are aiming for more as state tournament looms
Tabb High has reached the boys soccer state tournament often in the 25 years since Scott Kuhnle guided the Tigers to a championship in his first year as coach. This year’s team might be poised to make a state tournament run matching his ‘97 champs and 2005 finalists.
The Tigers flexed their muscles with a 5-1 win over Lafayette in the Class 3 Region A championship game Friday at Bailey Field. After dominating the first half, the Tigers (17-1) responded to a second-half goal by the Rams (12-5) with a three-goal blitz that ensured a repeat region title.
The Tigers will begin state tournament play back at Bailey Field on Tuesday, when they host Region B runner-up Maggie Walker (8-10-1) in the quarterfinals. Lafayette will go on the road to play defending state champion Meridian (16-1-1) in Falls Church in the quarters.
“This team is showing a lot of composure and grit and grind, playing well and finishing well,” Kuhnle said. “We have tough competition ahead, but I think this team definitely has a chance of making it to the final four.”
The more experienced Tigers, who started five seniors to the Rams’ one, assumed control early, similar to their 2-0 win over the Rams in April. That edge in possession inevitably led to corner kicks, and the Tigers cashed in by hitting the Rams with a right and then a left.
Andrew Fiocca delivered both blows. He scored the first goal 10 minutes in by heading in a corner kick off the right foot of Kyrillos Henin.
Fiocca increased the Tigers’ lead to 2-0 in the 18th minute with another header off of a corner. This time, Michael Hackworth left-footed the ball to Fiocca, who has dominated opponents in the air throughout the season.
“I can just trust my teammates that when we get a corner, one of them will find me,” Fiocca said. “I’ve practiced it so many times with (Kuhnle) and the kids that take corners, it’s just clockwork for me.
“That definitely set the tone for the game.”
The Tigers’ defensive foursome of Henin, Jacob Kimball, Noah Martin and Jackson Shiflett also set a tone by denying the Rams good looks on goal most of the first half. Jaydon Brooks, the Rams’ only senior starter, made a nice move in the box to get an open shot from 10 yards, but Tabb goalkeeper Logan Stoumbaugh reacted quickly to bat it away from goal.
Lafayette adjusted at halftime and pushed the attack to the Tabb goal in the first 11 minutes of the second half. That paid off when Brooks stole a pass and was taken down in the penalty box. Michael Gallagher converted the ensuing penalty kick to pull the Rams to within 2-1 with 29 minutes remaining.
The Tigers’ reaction? Dominance. Alex Yartsev one-touched a pass from Hackworth into goal a minute later to make it 3-1, before Garrett Aunapu did the same with Shiflett’s pass with 14 minutes remaining. Michael McGinn’s long-range rocket into the net gave the Tigers a 5-1 lead with about 12 minutes left.
“It feels nice,” Fiocca said of the region title repeat, “but next up is states and we’ve got to worry about that now.”
The state berth is the first as coach of Lafayette for Bobby O’Brien, who guided Jamestown to three state titles. Although he starts nine freshmen and sophomores, he cautioned not to count his team out.
“We feel like we’re playing with house money and we’re going to put as much experience in the bank as we can,” he said. “But we think if we can put things together for three games, we have a chance.”
