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

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It took Lake Braddock coach Diane Miller a moment to answer.

"That makes seven," she said, with a fully-loaded, sputtering bus waiting behind her.

As in seven Northern Region championships for the Bruins under the region's most-storied coach after Lake Braddock's 2-0 win over Concorde District champion Westfield on Wednesday.

But this was the first since 1998 -- and the school's first regional final appearance since 2002.

The last three seasons, the Bruins have been upset in the second round of the Northern Region tournament, prematurely halting what were promising seasons.

"I got pulled up on the team my freshman year, so I've been through the curse three times," said senior midfielder Sarah Morehouse, primed to shine this season before tearing her ACL in a club tournament over the summer.

"Winning that second-round game was incredible and coming here and winning regional champs, it hasn't quite hit me yet. I'm waiting for the shockwaves to come... I'm proud of every single one of them."

Yet, over 18 seasons at Lake Braddock as head coach -- 29 seasons overall -- Miller has not lost touch with the girls.

As Bruin Principal Dave Thomas handed Miller the championship trophy, she dove in front of the team, already organized for its photo-op, and lay posing on her side for the hoards of media and parents snapping picture of the team and its trophy.

"Every year, when we go to the beach, they always want me to jump in front," said Miller, the 2008 Northern Region coach of the year. "I don't know why. For pictures at the beach, they have me lying in front of them.

"I've always believed that if the kids are going to play well for you, they have to enjoy themselves. But they know there's a point where they better do this, or else. We're pretty laid back, believe it or not, at Lake Braddock. They make me laugh, I make them laugh. They're just fun."

But it was not all fun and games on Wednesday, at least not in the first half. Westfield senior goalkeeper Nicole Ficarra turned away four Lake Braddock shots before halftime as the two teams left the field with the game still scoreless.

That all turned less than 90 seconds into the second period as Bruin senior Ann Marie Gambescia poked home a cross to put Lake Braddock in front. Less than nine minutes later, a successful penalty stroke by senior mid Katie Klatt doubled the lead.

And with the play of Bruin senior goalkeeper Eileen O'Connor, who had a game-high six saves, victory was assured.

Gambescia, one of five Bruins to be named to the All-Tournament team, has accounted for over half the team's goals this postseason.

"She's really good, because she's really quick and good about staying in front of the goalie," said Miller, who has coached 18 district-championship teams. "After coaching her and her sister, and I know the mother and her brother, they are probably the most competitive family. Her mother still plays soccer.

"They hate to lose and Ann Marie told me, 'We are not losing.' And her sister is the same way."

Added Gambescia, who, along with senior Mackensy Medlin, promised to continue a peculiar 7-11 tradition in Virginia Beach next weekend: "Really, I could care less who scores these goals right now, as long as we get to these games. Obviously, it's a great feeling, scoring, but I couldn't care less who it is."

For both Lake Braddock and Westfield -- who meet the Central Region runner-up and champion, respectively, in the first round of the state tournament -- every bit of teamwork, competitive edge and superstition will be needed next weekend.

Only one Northern Region team has won the VHSL AAA state championship since 1986. That was Woodson in 2003, the last year a team from the region even reached the title game.

The Bruins are 0-5 all-time in state championship games and the Bulldogs have never played in a final. The recent lack of success of teams from the Northern Region has been attributed largely to the Astroturf playing surface, which no teams in this region use, but Eastern Region teams play on throughout their seasons.

"The turf is a lot faster, so we're going to have to slow down our game," said Morehouse, who suffered her season-ending injury on the artificial surface in Virginia Beach. "We're going to have to make smarter passes and look out wide, slow down our hits and stuff. And make sure we control the ball better because it's going to be a lot tougher, especially against teams that have been playing on that surface for a while.

"[And] 'O' deserves this more than anything in the world. I hope we win states for her. That would be the best thing ever."

E-mail: pmurphy@digitalsports.com

Lake Braddock  (21-1)   0  2  -- 2
Westfield           (19-4)   0  0  -- 0

Goals                        
LB - Gambescia (32)
LB - Klatt (41)