With one exception through 13 regular-season high-school soccer matches this spring, the Washington-Liberty Generals have done whatever is necessary to finish on top.
The boys team has won in a variety of ways: twice in overtime, five times by one goal, a handful by three goals or more and six by shutout. As a result, the Generals own a 12-1 overall record with eight straight wins and stand atop the Liberty District standings with a 5-0 mark leading into their final regular season game Friday night.
Blowout wins for the Generals have been by 6-0, 5-0 (twice) and 4-0 scores. Also, there was a 5-2 victory over the defending Virginia High School League Class 6 state champion Herndon Hornets.
Washington-Liberty’s lone loss was 2-1 on the road against the Westfield Bulldogs, when one of the Generals’ best players did not participate.
“Our team is solid this season at every spot and position,” said longtime W-L head coach Jimmy Carrasquillo, in his 27th year at the helm and nearing 300 career victories. “We have a few guys with experience, and they push each other.”
Following the Generals’ final regular-season game on Friday, May 8, the postseason begins.
“We want to finish the regular season on a high note, then do well in the playoffs,” Carrasquillo told ARLnow. “We haven’t done as well in the playoffs as we have wanted recently, and the players want to change that.”
The Generals last won the district tournament in 2022 and last won region and state titles in 2016.
Leading Washington-Liberty this season are senior team captains Darragh Cahill and Owen Bird, two of the team’s top goal-scorers. Other top scorers are sophomore Bodhisattva Wardrope, juniors Will Cohen and Cole Montgomery. Senior David Toepel is a capable scorer, as well. Toepel is one of the top returners.
“We spread out the scoring,” Carrasquillo said. “That makes us hard to defend because opponents can’t mark just one guy.”
Wardrope scored two goals in the win over Herndon, with Cahill and Cohen among the others with a goal.
Wardrope scored the tying goal late in the match in the Generals’ recent 2-1 overtime victory over the McLean Highlanders in district action. Cahill netted the game-winner in the first overtime.
Carrasquillo credited junior goalie Jefferson Jimenez and junior defender James Humphrey making key plays in that win. Jimenez also was in goal for the recent victories over Herndon and the Lewis Lancers by a 1-0 score.
“Those were three big wins,” Carrasquillo said. “Our goalie made big saves in all three.”
Another top senior for Washington-Liberty is centerback Izac Meredith. Other seniors are Lavand Aqrawi, Brice Hardt and Harris Ellinwood and other top players and starters have been sophomore Rayyan Damous and juniors Danat Damtie and Cian Miller.
The Generals’ most recent victory was by a 4-2 score in overtime against the host Marshall Statesmen in district play. Marshall took a 1-0 first-half lead, W-L rallied to move in front 2-1, then the score was tied at 2 at the end of regulation.
The Generals scored a goal in each of the two 5-minute overtime periods to win as they consistently controlled possession and attacked the Marshall goal during the extra time. Montgomery scored twice in the win and Cohen and Cahill (on a penalty kick) once each.
The win was W-L’s second straight overtime triumph.
Washington-Liberty’s final regular-season game is on the road against the Wakefield Warriors in an all-Arlington clash.
Wakefield is coached by Carrasquillo’s younger brother. Eddie Carrasquillo. Jimmy has never lost in high-school action in a game coached by Eddie at Wakefield, which got hot in the postseason and finished second in the region and state tournaments last season.
Washington-Liberty nipped Wakefield, 2-1, in the rivals’ one meeting late last spring.
“Wakefield definitely will be ready for us,” Jimmy Carrasquillo predicted.
