By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Editor
Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area

*Click the links at the top-left for 87 photos, 59 videos and post-match interviews from Thursday!!

After the match between No. 8 McLean and No. 9 Langley -- and following the dual-team photo op at midfield -- Highlander coach Mike Anderson and Saxon coach Bo Amato spoke briefly.

The discussion was not about the quality of the other side or any specific moment from the match. The meeting had nothing to do with the game at all.

It was over what to do with the MYS Trophy -- formerly the Rotary Cup -- which is given to the winner of annual sporting events between the two schools, following their 1-1 draw on Thursday night.

The coaches were insistent on letting the other keep the bulky, gold cup.

That generosity will likely diminish should Langley (6-1-2) and McLean (7-2-1) meet again this year, a very possible scenario given their early-season success.

"We played well, but we made some mistakes through the middle," said Anderson, who ultimately gave Amato the MYS Trophy on a six-month loan. "We were working our legs a little too hard. Transitional play was great. But that was a great game, a great game. I think all we from that was a positive experience, a good result and we move on.

"That could be the team we face in the tournament championship."

Added Highlander senior Sam Radelet: "We need to work harder. We were missing some key players, but I think, all-in-all, we could have won. And I think it was just unfortunate that we tied.

"It was a good game overall. We're not too unhappy, but we're not happy at the same time."

In fact, both teams were missing key members.

Three Langley starters -- central midfielder Roshan Patel, striker Dan Flitcroft and defender Farhan Khan -- are in Cincinnati, Ohio, playing in the adidas Blue Chip Soccer Showcase with the top-ranked club team in Virginia, Great Falls Elite.

McLean senior defender Tim Whitebread, who assisted Radelet's game-winning goal against Woodson on Tuesday, is also in Cincinnati with GFA.

If that were not enough, Radelet missed over 40 minutes of consecutive play after injuring his left elbow on the first goal of the match in the 26th minute.

While Amato stressed the importance of the exposure to college and professional scouts for the traveling players, he understood that the depth of both teams was tested with such significant absences.

"In terms of spectacle for football for people to watch, I don't know if it was worth the five bucks a ticket," he said. "But it wasn't a bad game if you cared for one team or the other."

Added Saxon sophomore Josh Ellis, who took on an added role in the attacking third: "We're a great team this year. And considering we were missing three key players, we played a great game. We've got a lot of young players this year -- sophomores and juniors.

"Every game I feel responsibility. But, especially today, we were missing three good players."

On Thursday, the end-to-end to play that characterized the first half diminished under tired -- often cramping -- legs after the intermission.

But in the 65th minute, Langley junior Joe Young -- who started in Flitcroft's absence -- was taken down from behind to draw a penalty kick that, post-game, both coaches admittedly questioned.

Saxon sophomore Dylan Price stepped in to take the penalty, slotting it in the bottom left corner to equalize and complete the scoring.

"We're a young team -- we've only got two seniors starting -- so next year looks tremendous and the year after looks really good," second-year coach Amato said. "But this year, who knows? Maybe we'll upset a few teams.

"And I know our district is a lot better than people give us credit for."

Added Anderson, also in his second season: "I think we just played the other best team in the district. I'm glad that we walked away from here with a point and we'll knock heads later."

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com

No. 8 McLean     1  0  0  0  --  1
No. 9 Langley     0  1  0  0  --  1

Goals:                 
ML -- Radelet (26')
LG -- Price (65', PK)