By matching their most lopsided victory of the season, the Oakton Cougars won their opening match of the state field-hockey tournament.
Oakton (21-2) routed the visiting North Stafford Wolverines, 7-0, in that Virginia High School League Class 6 girls contest. The victory was the 13th in a row this season for a team that already has won Concorde District and 6D North Region tournaments this fall and is now 6-0 in the postseason.
Next, Oakton will face the Glen Allen Jaguars (16-3) in a semifinal match Friday (Nov. 15) at 7 p.m. at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Glen Allen has won four straight matches, including a 2-0 win over Woodson in a first-round state match.
Oakton has never won a state final, but reached the semifinals of the tournament last year when its season ended with a loss.
In the victory over North Stafford, Avery DeKoven scored three goals, Riley Sweeney two and Gigi Liu and Marisa Rubano one each. Assists went to Rubano, Liu, Sweeney, Lindsey Calder and Daniella Rubano. Maura Farrell was in goal and made one save.
Also in the state semifinals are the Fairfax Lions (20-3). They blanked the Cosby Titans, 3-0, in a first-round match as Kaia Beaudoin scored two goals and Madison Malloy one. Kasey Parker had two assists and Lila Seifert made three saves in goal to get the win.
The victory was the 13th in a row for Fairfax, of which nine have been shutouts, including four in a row.
Fairfax will face the defending champion Yorktown Patriots in a state semifinal, Friday (Nov. 15) at 5 p.m. at Ocean Lakes High School.
Fairfax won the state championship in 2022.
