Quick goals lead to Mustangs victory over Indians
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs used very early goals in each half to gain momentum, eventually defeating the visiting Hillsboro Indians, 4-2 in non-conference play.
In the very physical match of the two Highland County foes, it was the Mustangs who struck first, and early, in the match when Kyle Luneke put the ball to the left side of the net with an assist from Ethan Garrison as the scoreboard read 38:02.
The match between the two undefeated teams saw LC keep a zero in the loss column, moving to 5-0-1 on the season. HHS moves to 3-1-2.
Also in the first half, LC keeper Devin Pierson kept the score tied with a diving, one-handed stop around the 35-minute mark.
It is tough to keep a team like the Indians down for the entire match, and with 28:45 left in the opening half, Brandon Elmore tied the score at 1-1, with an HHS goal at the 28:45 mark.
Pierson finished the match with seven saves, and his counterpart, HHS keeper Austin Goolsby, totaled eight saves, six in the first half.
"The boys are as resilient of a group as I've ever coached," LC head coach Dennis West said. "They just continue to play at a quality level. They are one of the best teams of moving the ball that I've ever coached.
"They just wait for people, and their attacks are directed well. We have several kids that can put the ball into the net. We look to Noah the most often, but as we saw (Tuesday), we have a few kids that can score for us. We have a lot of kids who can set those scores up."
Hillsboro eventually gained the lead in the first half with D.J. Brown going through the defense of the host Mustangs with 22:34 on the first-half clock, for the 2-1 advantage.
"Overall, I was pleased with the intensity we started out with," HHS head coach John Weber said. "This is the first time we played both halves. It was just mental lapses to allow the early goals in each half. Take away the first minute or two of each half, and I'm happy with our play.
"We didn't play for 12 days until (Monday) when we played a super physical game against McClain, then we have to come and play Lynchburg-Clay in another physical game. My guys played really hard, and hats off to Lynchburg-Clay, they played an excellent game as well."
The Indians were almost able to hold on to the first-half lead, but the Mustangs looked to their leading scorer from a season ago to grab the momentum back into their favor.
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That player was Noah Scott, and he did just that with eight seconds remaining in the first half, with the senior tying the score off a header right before the half.
LC began the second half with a goal quicker than the first goal of the match with Quintin Smith pushing the Mustangs back in front with an unassisted goal at 39:35 of the second half, as he was close to the net for the 3-2 advantage.
"I was really pleased with how we came out in both halves and how we didn't give up when Hillsboro took the lead in the first half," West said. "The goal at the end of the first half was a monster goal, because that got our momentum back for us.
"When we came out and scored in the second half in the first 25 seconds, that's demoralizing. I've been on the other end of that, and that is a demoralizing happening. It just takes the wind right out of your sails."
Lynchburg-Clay scored their final goal with 20:36 left in the match, with Scott gaining his second goal and a 4-2 LC lead. The assist was credited to Garrison.
"The fourth goal helped out greatly, because Hillsboro is tough, and (D.J. Brown) is a monster," West said. "When he decided to go in there, he's big and strong enough to do so. We were pleased with the outcome. I thought we played well."
The second half also saw three total yellow cards handed out, with two given to the Mustangs and one to the Indians.
For the match, LC totaled 18 shots and three corner kicks, while the Indians totaled eight shots.
"I was pleased with our overall play, and I was pleased with the seniors as they did an excellent job of stepping up, but we had younger guys step up as well," Weber said. "As a whole, we'll take that effort for our first loss. Overall, this was an excellent job by both teams."
HHS will play their third match in three days, this time in a non-league showdown vs. Unioto at 5 p.m.
In the very physical match of the two Highland County foes, it was the Mustangs who struck first, and early, in the match when Kyle Luneke put the ball to the left side of the net with an assist from Ethan Garrison as the scoreboard read 38:02.
The match between the two undefeated teams saw LC keep a zero in the loss column, moving to 5-0-1 on the season. HHS moves to 3-1-2.
Also in the first half, LC keeper Devin Pierson kept the score tied with a diving, one-handed stop around the 35-minute mark.
It is tough to keep a team like the Indians down for the entire match, and with 28:45 left in the opening half, Brandon Elmore tied the score at 1-1, with an HHS goal at the 28:45 mark.
Pierson finished the match with seven saves, and his counterpart, HHS keeper Austin Goolsby, totaled eight saves, six in the first half.
"The boys are as resilient of a group as I've ever coached," LC head coach Dennis West said. "They just continue to play at a quality level. They are one of the best teams of moving the ball that I've ever coached.
"They just wait for people, and their attacks are directed well. We have several kids that can put the ball into the net. We look to Noah the most often, but as we saw (Tuesday), we have a few kids that can score for us. We have a lot of kids who can set those scores up."
Hillsboro eventually gained the lead in the first half with D.J. Brown going through the defense of the host Mustangs with 22:34 on the first-half clock, for the 2-1 advantage.
"Overall, I was pleased with the intensity we started out with," HHS head coach John Weber said. "This is the first time we played both halves. It was just mental lapses to allow the early goals in each half. Take away the first minute or two of each half, and I'm happy with our play.
"We didn't play for 12 days until (Monday) when we played a super physical game against McClain, then we have to come and play Lynchburg-Clay in another physical game. My guys played really hard, and hats off to Lynchburg-Clay, they played an excellent game as well."
The Indians were almost able to hold on to the first-half lead, but the Mustangs looked to their leading scorer from a season ago to grab the momentum back into their favor.
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That player was Noah Scott, and he did just that with eight seconds remaining in the first half, with the senior tying the score off a header right before the half.
LC began the second half with a goal quicker than the first goal of the match with Quintin Smith pushing the Mustangs back in front with an unassisted goal at 39:35 of the second half, as he was close to the net for the 3-2 advantage.
"I was really pleased with how we came out in both halves and how we didn't give up when Hillsboro took the lead in the first half," West said. "The goal at the end of the first half was a monster goal, because that got our momentum back for us.
"When we came out and scored in the second half in the first 25 seconds, that's demoralizing. I've been on the other end of that, and that is a demoralizing happening. It just takes the wind right out of your sails."
Lynchburg-Clay scored their final goal with 20:36 left in the match, with Scott gaining his second goal and a 4-2 LC lead. The assist was credited to Garrison.
"The fourth goal helped out greatly, because Hillsboro is tough, and (D.J. Brown) is a monster," West said. "When he decided to go in there, he's big and strong enough to do so. We were pleased with the outcome. I thought we played well."
The second half also saw three total yellow cards handed out, with two given to the Mustangs and one to the Indians.
For the match, LC totaled 18 shots and three corner kicks, while the Indians totaled eight shots.
"I was pleased with our overall play, and I was pleased with the seniors as they did an excellent job of stepping up, but we had younger guys step up as well," Weber said. "As a whole, we'll take that effort for our first loss. Overall, this was an excellent job by both teams."
HHS will play their third match in three days, this time in a non-league showdown vs. Unioto at 5 p.m.