Lybert's Power Play Is Woodbridge's Gain
By B.J. Koubaroulis
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, May 29, 2007; E08

Woodbridge Coach Scott Kerns has told freshman forward Kristen Lybert he wants her to be more selfish. He has seen what happens when she takes over a game.

Last night in Woodbridge, Lybert asserted herself and everyone in attendance witnessed the results -- her 25th goal and eighth assist, leading the top-seeded Vikings to a 3-0 win in a Virginia AAA Northwestern Region quarterfinal.

"We are trying to get her to be more selfish and take people on because that's what she's good at," Kerns said. "She is really worried about being seen as selfish by her teammates and I think that's something we have to break her from."

Lybert broke the habit long enough to pelt a shot off the legs of Osbourn senior goalkeeper Maddy Morrow and then buried the loose ball in the back right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead in the game's second minute.

"I try to be as unpredictable as possible because I've seen players that are predictable and everybody can defend them the same way, so I try to vary it as much as possible," said Lybert, who finished the goal with her left foot after taking the first shot with her right.

Woodbridge sophomore forward Rihana Williams finished Lybert's left-footed cross near the left post to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead in the 42nd minute. Williams gave Woodbridge a 3-0 lead in the 63rd minute when she redirected senior defender Emily Hughes's 20-yard shot.
Woodbridge improved to 17-0-1; Osbourn's season ended at 12-4-3.

The Woodbridge defense, which has allowed just nine goals, recorded its 11th shutout. The Vikings have not allowed a goal in six games since a 3-2 overtime victory over Forest Park on May 1. Since then, Woodbridge has outscored opponents 26-0, won the AAA Cardinal District tournament title and earned its first Northwestern Region tournament berth since 2003.
"They are always solid. They never let us down," said senior midfielder Emily Danchak of the defense. "I feel like, no matter what, they will be behind us."

Woodbridge's smothering defense limited Osbourn to just two shots on goal in the first half and two in the second.

Woodbridge 3, Osbourn 1 Up Next: Woodbridge advanced to host Mountain View, a 4-0 winner over E.C. Glass, in tomorrow's region semifinals. Short-handed: Osbourn was without senior forward Brittany Johnson, its leading scorer. Johnson (11 goals, two assists) suffered a right knee injury in the Eagles' win over Battlefield in the Cedar Run district tournament final.