Gameday Magazine:Herndon Boys Soccer Begins Post-Season #1 Herndon Boys Soccer Begins Post-Season #1 By Thomas Emerick - Senior Editor May 14, 2008 HERNDON, VA - Sean Lanigan's return from Major League Soccer to coach Herndon's underachieving boys program doesn't look to be in vain thus far, as the Hornets are ranked number one in the state heading into tonight's 7 p.m. Concorde District semifinal home match with Fairfax. In recent years, the Hornet squads-- while widely acclaimed as heavy in talent-- consistently fizzled out in the postseason. The past two seasons have found them dropping out of the first rounds in districts and regionals in '07 and '06 respectively. Lanigan signed with Herndon before this season in hopes of reestablishing the glory days of his first tenure. "It's about a sense of discipline," Lanigan, whose Herndon teams amassed three district and two regional championships from 1996-2000, said. "I don't know what these guys have done in the past except that the talent has been really good." "It's (also) the expectations. That's why I'm coming back to high school (soccer), and putting the burden on the players ... I'm putting everything together, and they're doing all the work." After a string of success that started with him being named Washington Post All Metropolitan Boys Soccer Coach of the Year in '96, Lanigan would go on to assist MLS clubs DC United and the Kansas City Wizards in the coaching department-- while Herndon would field highly touted prospects but fall short of the bar that had been set prior. This year's squad sports an 11-1 record and features five first-team and two second-team All-District standouts that feel poised to reset their program's culture. "Everyone works with each other and everyone believes in each other," All-District senior center midfielder Anatole Doak (4 goals, 2 assists), who will play Ivy League soccer at Cornell next season, said. "That's really been the difference. I mean, we've had the talent and this year it's just come to blossom because of our team chemistry." Fellow senior center midfielder Christian McLaughlin, who's tallied 12 goals and 14 assists en route to being named a finalist for Gatorade State Player of the Year, seconded that notion. "We didn't really trust in one another, and people would be selfish at times when we really needed to pass," McLaughlin, who's signed on to play at college powerhouse Virginia, said. "I feel like this year, at least, everybody trusts each other and everyone makes the right pass." Sean Murnane's transfer from Westfield to Herndon this winter has only helped the chemistry, and the junior striker's team-leading 16 goals injected instant offensive potency into Herndon's line up. "We all meshed real well, real quickly," Murnane said, "Everyone gets along, there's not one person out here that someone doesn't like." This year's team includes All-District athletes at keeper (sophomore Alex Stopa, first-team), center back (senior Sol Mourtaza, first-team), and outside midfield (senior Yazen Sleem and sophomore Ewum Etuk, second-team). McLaughlin feels it's the most well rounded Herndon group in recent memory; "We're solid throughout our entire lineup; there's really no weaknesses." The National Soccer Coaches of America Association must've agreed when they ranked the Hornets above all others in the Commonwealth this week, but Herndon's leaders won't let the buzz distract them. "It feels good because finally we're getting recognition after we beat Westfield (who was ranked number beforehand), even though we weren't ranked ahead of them immediately after, " McLaughlin said, "but that doesn't mean anything." "Number one in the state before the postseason means nothing," McLaughlin continued, "You want to be number one in the state after the championships. We can't underestimate anybody." Doak didn't want to see another talented Herndon team fall in the postseason either. "We could be last in the state," Doak said, "As long as we win at the end, it wouldn't matter." Tonight's match will take place at Herndon High School. April 28th win over Westfield Senior midfielder Anatole Doak's two second half goals helped Herndon rally for a 3-2 win at then-No. 1 Westfield (NSCAA Virginia state rankings). Photo courtesy of Dave Merrill. Herndon Hornets Headlines Doak's Late Rebound Advances Hornets, 1-0 HERNDON, VA - Through 75 minutes Herndon did not look like Virginia's top ranked high school boys soccer team. Then, ... Herndon Boys Soccer Begins Post-Season #1 HERNDON, VA - Sean Lanigan's return from Major League Soccer to coach Herndon's underachieving boys program doesn't look to be ... The Best of Concorde District Baseball Named FAIRFAX, VA - The top baseball players were named May 11 by officials of the Concorde District. Oakton Head, Scott ... Herndon Hornets Headlines Doak's Late Rebound Advances Hornets, 1-0 HERNDON, VA - Through 75 minutes Herndon did not look like Virginia's top ranked high school boys soccer team. Then, ... Herndon Boys Soccer Begins Post-Season #1 HERNDON, VA - Sean Lanigan's return from Major League Soccer to coach Herndon's underachieving boys program doesn't look to be ... The Best of Concorde District Baseball Named FAIRFAX, VA - The top baseball players were named May 11 by officials of the Concorde District. Oakton Head, Scott ... Post a comment(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.) Name: Email Address: URL: Remember personal info? Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style) Email this page Email this entry to: Your email address: Message (optional): © Copyright 2008 TCC Sports LLC. All rights reserved. SCHOOLS Chesapeake Schools > Deep Creek Hornets Great Bridge Wildcats Hickory Hawks Indian River Braves Oscar Smith Tigers Western Branch Bruins Fairfax Schools > Centreville Wildcats Chantilly Chargers Herndon Hornets Lake Braddock Bruins Madison Warhawks Marshall Statesmen Oakton Cougars Robinson Rams South County Stallions South Lakes Seahawks Westfield Bulldogs Loudoun Schools > Briar Woods Falcons Broad Run Spartans Dominion Titans Freedom Eagles Heritage Pride Loudoun County Raiders Loudoun Valley Vikings Park View Patriots Potomac Falls Panthers Stone Bridge Bulldogs Prince William Schools > Battlefield Bobcats Brentsville Tigers C.D. Hylton Bulldogs Fauquier Falcons Forest Park Bruins Freedom Eagles Garfield Indians Liberty Eagles Manassas Park Cougars Osbourn Eagles Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets Potomac Panthers Stonewall Jackson Raiders Woodbridge Vikings Hampton Roads Schools > Bayside Marlins Cape Henry Cox Falcons First Colonial Patriots Green Run Stallions Kellam Knights Kempsville Chiefs Landstown Eagles Ocean Lakes Dolphins Princess Anne Cavaliers Salem Sundevils Tallwood Lions Winchester Schools > Sherando Warriors John Handley Judges James Wood Colonels Millbrook Pioneers Clarke County Eagles Warren County Wildcats Panhandle WV Schools > Martinsburg Bulldogs Hedgesville Eagles Musselman Applemen Jefferson Cougars Berkeley Springs Indians Hampshire Trojans Keyser Golden Tornados Warrenton Schools > Liberty Eagles Fauquier Falcons STANDINGS Gameday Boys Basketball Power Poll - Feb. 4 National District Standings 11/03 Patriot District Standings 11/03 Liberty District Standings 11/03 Concorde District Standings 11/03 Dulles District Standings 11/03 VHSL AAA State Soccer Finals - Results VHSL AA Soccer Finals - Results VHSL AA State Baseball & Softball Finals - Results VHSL AAA State Baseball and Softball Finals - Results FOOTBALL Valley's Sheppard Steps Down After 6 Years 2008 Gameday Gridiron Challenge Rewind Stone Bridge's Thompson Commits To Wake First Person: Stone Bridge's Brian Slay Olson Gives Wake Forest Verbal Commitment BASKETBALL Boys Basketball > Q&A With Herndon Basketball's Chris Whelan Remember The Titans: T.C Williams Wins Title Sugars Scores 25 To Lead Pioneers Potomac Falls' Alex Hogue Titans Capture Back To Back Titles Girls Basketball > Stone Bridge's Parke Steps Down Family Affair at Briar Woods Lancers Cruise To Regional Crown Kain Drills GW Shot, Raiders Win 48-47 Lady Cougars Claim Concorde Title GOLF Boys Golf > Falcons Fly To Top Spot In Golfing Hampton Roads Fall Sports Wrap-Up Nathan Brown Is On The Green Keyser's Travis Kidwell played with confidence in 2006 Andrews Strives for Success Girls Golf > Coming soon GYMNASTICS Boys Gymnastics > Coming soon Girls Gymnastics > Gameday Notebook: February 15 Kara Wright Leads Virginia to National Title Callie Jenkins is a Role Model for her Team Westfield's Arnsparger A Star In The Making Callie Jenkins is a Role Model for Her Team CR. COUNTRY Boys Cross Country > Some Knights To Remember Hampton Roads Fall Sports Wrap-Up Clarke County Boys and Girls State Champs! Pride Take 3rd In States At Cross Country Meet Krull and Rerras Lead the Cross Country Teams for Granby Girls Cross Country > Rinehardt's The Light-Speed Lady Lion Some Knights To Remember Hampton Roads Fall Sports Wrap-Up Three Time State Champ Clarke County Boys and Girls State Champs! VOLLEYBALL Boys Volleyball > Hampton Roads Fall Sports Wrap-Up COX Dominates District in Volleyball Cox Falcons Dominate Most Fall Sports Shane Holderby is First Colonial's Attack Leader Ranz and Shevock to Lead Kempsville in 2007 Girls Volleyball > Galvan Picks Up Where She Left Off a Year Ago Galvan, Scott, Le Maitre Lead Pride Past Patritots Bulka's MVP Run Starts with Senior Superlative Hampton Roads Fall Sports Wrap-Up Pride's Young Named Region Player of Year SWIMMING Boys Swimming > Cream Rises to the Top at SNOW Maryland-bound Mears Finishes # 1 In State Brandon Parker: Princess Anne’s High Energy Juggler Commitment and Focus are Paying off Making the Transformation from Panther to Tiger Girls Swimming > Newell Wins Gold At ACC Championship Cream Rises to the Top at SNOW Former Bulldog Newell Continues To Shine at VT Stone Bridge Swimmers Advance to Regionals Catelyn Nelson - Westfield Swimming Spotlight WRESTLING Hampton's New Bodybuilder Buffs Up Region II Wrestling Tourney Moved Beach District Male Athlete of the Year Bulldogs' Hutchens Strives for State Title Collin Dozier is an Inspiration to Falcons MORE SPORTS Baseball Boys Lacrosse Girls Lacrosse Boys Soccer Girls Soccer Softball Boys Tennis Girls Tennis Boys Track and Field Girls Track and Field