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

*Click the links on the top-left for full multimedia coverage of the quarterfinal game!*

Approaching thunderstorms forced the start of the Northern Region quarterfinal between W.T. Woodson and West Springfield to be moved up an hour -- a decision that altered schedules for buses, pre-game team meetings and media attendance.

It also jacked up the players' diets.

"I woke up a little late, because I always get the Chicken Bacon Ranch before every game," Cavalier senior Paul Tunick said. "I had to rush my Chicken Bacon Ranch digestion.

"That didn't really mess me up, though."

And springing an hour forward didn't mess up the Cavaliers.

Woodson scored five unanswered second quarter goals en route to a 9-7 road win over West Springfield on Thursday to advance to the regional semifinals.

"Our offense was being really patient, we were just waiting for the good looks," said Tunick, whose team trailed, 3-1, early in the second period. "And our defense was making the first slide real fast and making the two slide fast, shutting down their offense."

Added Cavalier coach Jon FitzGerald, a 10-time district champion: "We came out flat and we were a little too stiff. I don't know what I did wrong, but they had every reason to be up for this game. West Springfield really came out sharp.

"We beat Westfield at Westfield just two nights ago. I think we still had a hangover from that win. We beat them, 8-7. They're a tough team with very defense ... I think the game we had on Monday might have been the reason we came out a little bit flat in the first half."

FitzGerald also tabbed off-ball defense as the key for both Woodson's turnaround on Thursday and its key to victory against Robinson on Monday, the victor of which clinches both a spot in the Northern Region championship and the Virginia AAA State Tournament.

While the Spartan season ended with their loss, it will not be the last closely-contested match with the Cavaliers. Next year, Woodson moves to the Patriot District, taking the place of Hayfield -- which moves to the National District -- to provide a fascinating four-team race for that league title, joining perennial contenders Lake Braddock, West Springfield and Annandale.

The three-team exchange -- which also includes Fairfax moving to the Liberty -- rekindles a rivalry from early in FitzGerald's coaching career, before the current four-district structure was instituted after the 1994 season.

"This is my 22nd year at Woodson and, the first few years I was here, we had the Northern District," said FitzGerald, a four-time region and three-time state champion. "And they had Lake Braddock, West Springfield, and a lot of these teams. When I started coaching those were my original rivals.

"It will be refreshing coming back into a district playing teams that are closer to our school and also reigniting those rivalries from long ago."

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com

          (L3) Woodson                (11-4)      1  5  2  1  --  9
          (P1) West Springfield   (14-4)      2  1  3  1  --  7

Goals:
WT - Paul Tunick (3), Tyler Stellwag (2), Clayton Wainer (2), John Garguilo, Davis Mayberry.
WS - Hunter Bragg (3), Mike Barry (2), Chris Fletcher, Eric Schauder.

Assists:
WT - Tyler Stellwag (3), Davis Mayberry (2).
WS - Hayden Angulo, Lee Gleason, Andy McGregor, Sean Phelan.

Goals (Time Left in Half)  --  Score
1st Quarter                              
WS - Mike Barry (9:37) -- 1-0
WT - Paul Tunick (7:39) -- 1-1
WS - Chris Fletcher (2:36) -- 2-1
2nd Quarter                               
WS - Connor Ruddy (11:18) -- 3-1
WT - Paul Tunick (7:38) -- 3-2
WT - Clayton Wainer (7:07) -- 3-3
WT - John Garguilo (6:22) -- 3-4
WT - Davis Mayberry (3:22) -- 3-5
WT - Clayton Wainer (:10.2) -- 3-6
3rd Quarter                               
WS - Hunter Bragg (10:28) -- 4-6
WS - Hunter Bragg (7:13) -- 5-6
WS - Mike Barry (6:58) -- 6-6
WT - Tyler Stellwag (2:03) -- 6-7
WT - Tyler Stellwag (:20.8) -- 6-8
4th Quarter                               
WT - Paul Tunick (4:38) -- 6-9
WS - Eric Schauder (2:52) -- 7-9