The determination to succeed during the postseason this spring began motivating the McLean Highlanders a year ago, when the 2023 campaign ended for the boys soccer team with a first-round loss in the region tournament.
Their goal was to do much better in 2024, and that mission certainly was accomplished.
McLean finished this season as 6D North Region tournament champions, followed by a runner-up in the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state tournament with a 2-1 record. McLean also was second in the Liberty District tourney.
The Highlanders finished second in the state one other time, in 1995. The region title was McLean’s third, also winning in 1978 and 1980.
Overall, the squad compiled a 17-3-2 record.
“The players have done something really special this season,” second-year McLean head coach Leland Jameson said. “We did everything we could do as far as preparation to be ready for the [playoff] matches. We were so close, but the state final just didn’t fall our way.”
McLean lost to the Cosby Titans, 2-1 in the first sudden-death overtime, in the state final at Mills Godwin High School in Richmond. Cosby led 1-0 in the match, then McLean’s Ada Karatepe tied the score at 1 in the second half.
McLean topped Gar-Field, 2-1, in the semifinals the day before at Mills Godwin as Dante Tosado scored both goals, with Karatepe assisting on one.
McLean edged Woodson, 3-2, in a first-round state game.
McLean was 3-0 in the region tournament with all close victories. The Highlanders defeated Centreville, 2-1, in the first round, nipped Westfield, 2-1 on penalty kicks in the semifinals, then won the championship match, 3-2, in sudden death overtime over Herndon.
In the district tourney, McLean was involved in three more close matches, defeating Marshall and Yorktown by 2-1 scores, then losing to Herndon, 3-2 in overtime in the final.
All nine of McLean’s postseason matches were decided by one goal or in overtime.
Junior forward Joseph Margita was McLean’s leading scorer this season with 23 goals and 12 assists. Caffrey Eaton scored 12 goals and Karatepe scored 11.
Margita, Karatepe, Will Saxon and Luke Hamel were chosen all-region for McLean. They also were selected all-district along with Tosado and goalie Sebastian Carmenates.
Hamel scored the winning overtime goal in the region championship match.
In addition to Caffrey and Tosado, other seniors were Arthur Cardoso Villela Padras, Leo Journoud, Daniel Barrera, Graham Courey, Conor Patton, Griffin Bataille and goalie Ivan Boykin. A large McLean roster also included 16 juniors and three sophomores.
“We had a lot of depth this season, but a lot of new players really stepped up and performed,” Jameson said. “A lot of those players will be back next season, and we have the chance to be even stronger next year. So we hope to get back to the state final and win.”
McLean finished 12-4 in Jameson’s first season as head coach. He said a reason for the Highlanders’ success is because of the 3-5-2 formation they play, compared to the more normal 4-3-3 attack.
“That helps us keep possession and better control of the ball,” Jameson said.
NOTE: Of McLean’s 22 games this season, 15 were decided by one goal or in overtime.