Lady Mustangs, Lady Indians battle to scoreless tie

DODSONVILLE — Though it was a scoreless tie between the host Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs and Hillsboro Lady Indians, the two teams played tough for 80 complete minutes in the non-conference match.

For the Lady Mustangs, who didn't play for 11 days, it was a match of inches, with shots bouncing off the top of the cross bar in each half, costing them at least two goals in the Highland County rivalry contest that had a bit of a postseason feel in terms of the competition displayed on the field.

The tie sends HHS to a 3-1-2 overall record, while the Lady Mustangs are 4-1-1 on the season. This season, the Lady Mustangs have allowed just three goals, outscoring their opponents 33-3 in six matches.

"We were flat," LC head coach Dennis West said. "We played 10 minutes of the 80 where I felt like we were playing with the intensity we were playing with before the fair. I'm not using the fair as an excuse because we knew what we had to face in Hillsboro.

"We just came out and didn't execute well at all. The last 10 minutes, we felt like we were playing with intensity. The shots were better, much higher, and the quality of shots were much higher. If only they counted if they hit the post, we'd be in much better shape."

Neither team had many clear shots at either goal or were able to gain offensive momentum as the defense of both squads kept the top players away from the goal.

With under two minutes left in the first half, Hillsboro keeper Carly Meyer kept the score at zero following a diving stop.

The past two matches the Lady Indians haven't allowed a goal, as they defeated the McClain Lady Tigers, 10-0 Tuesday at McClain Field.

"We knew coming in it would be a competitive match, it always is," HHS head coach Jeremy Ratcliff said. "It is hotly contested. Both teams played with heart, played with desire. It got a bit sloppy at times, but you can't fault the effort of either team. Both teams came in wanting to do everything to win this game.

"I don't know if high school kids understand it now, but they are going to look back and remember these type of games, and know they brought out the best in each other."

In the second half, it was more of the same between the two back-to-back regional finalists, this time with the Lady Mustangs missing a header opportunity that bounced off the top of the crossbar with 1:32 left in regulation. The other shot off the crossbar occurred in the first half with 15:47 on the clock.

Also in the second half for LC (who were 11th in this week's Division III state coaches poll), they failed to score on an indirect kick with around three seconds remaining in the match.

"I'm not happy with a tie," West said. "Hillsboro has some quality players on the field, and they really slowed our attack up, the first half especially. We were getting frustrated. The kids were frustrated with their lack of success, and it carried over into the second half.

"Hopefully we'll get better. We don't play again for another week. We'll work on some things, and we'll be all right."

In all, HHS totaled two corner kicks and seven shots, three in the first half. HHS keeper Meyer totaled nine saves in the match. LC for the match had 15 shots at the goal, with their keeper duo of Peyton Scott (first half) and Lexi Waits (second half) recording six saves. Each keeper had three saves.

"This was one of the better games Carly has played all year," Ratcliff said. "Our entire defense played well. Our defense was the unsung heroes. They don't score all the goals or get the assists because of where they play on the field.

"Mallori Crum, Morgan Holland, Jalyn Yoakum, Natalie Sullivan and Taryn Magulac, and Meyer at keeper … that is a monumental effort to shut that team (LC) out because that is a very good team. They (LC) are very talented, very skilled on the ball, super talented, so I'm pleased with how the defense played."

Next for the Lady Indians is a match on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Wilmington to face the Lady Hurricane with a start time of 5 p.m.

"We've had two big ties, one was a 5-5 tie this season, the other was this one, and while it is nice to fight even with those teams, it is still only mid-September and we’re hoping by mid-October we are winning those games," Ratcliff said. "That's where we go from here. You can either be satisfied with tying a good team or come to the practice field saying ‘how do I get better.’”

This rivalry matchup of the two Highland County team the past four seasons has seen each team win once, and the other two matches be ties. In '14, LC won by a 4-2 score, and HHS last won in '12 by a 3-2 score. The '13 match saw the two teams tie with a 2-2 score.