Mustangs use aggressiveness to defeat Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs and the McClain Tigers have had opposite starts to the 2010 season.
Knowing they had to play aggressively to beat the McClain Tigers at McClain Field Wednesday, the Mustangs did just that, scoring two goals early in the first half, along with two in the final 40 minutes to outlast the defending South Central Ohio League champions, 4-2.
The Mustangs (2-0) remembered the toughness displayed by the Tigers last season at their home field, as both teams tied in their non-league matchup one year ago, as coaches Dennis West and Chris Tipton reminded their squad at the start of the week.
"Coming off our first game (against Western Brown) we played well, but I'll tell you, we were very nervous about coming here," West said. "Shawn (Jackson) has an excellent team, and he has the boys playing better and they are accustomed to each other."
But it was the Mustangs who were the better team Wednesday by scoring two goals in the early stages of the first half.
Junior Michael Smith scored two goals within two minutes of one another as he netted goals past the Tigers at the 26:05 and 24:56 marks of the game in the first half.
"Michael came on strong in the second half of last season, and he is our main offensive threat," West said. "But, I want to credit our defense too. They were outstanding tonight."
The two-goal lead by the Mustangs was cut in half by Sam Henry with 16:01 left in the first 40 minutes off a penalty kick. The kick came when the official called a tripping penalty.
"Sam did a really good job for us tonight with his scoring," Jackson said.
In two games this season, the Tigers have scored three goals.
At the 10:26 mark of the opening half, players from each team were warned with a yellow card.
Halfway through the second half, the score read the same as it did at halftime at 2-1; that was until there was 17:22 left in the Highland County rivalry matchup.
At that point of the game, the Mustangs added to their lead with a goal from junior midfielder Kaikue Costa, as he looped around a MHS defender and placed the ball into the middle to right side of the goal.
The scoring by LC wasn't done for the game, with the Mustangs adding their fourth-and final goal with 12:31 left.
LC's final goal came off the foot of junior Tyler Davidson, with the assist from freshman midfielder Gage Waits.
With the scoreboard reading 4-1, the Tigers scored their final goal with Henry scoring his second goal of the game with 11:17 remaining.
"Again, for the second game in a row, we came out flat, but we played much better than last night. But again, we aren't worried about it, and we play Madison-Plains Wednesday, and that will be the start of our SCOL schedule," MHS coach Shawn Jackson said. "The non-league game is important, but we want to win the SCOL title and we'll be back, I'm not too worried. We just need to forget about this loss and get ready for our league schedule."
West and Tipton talked about the mindset of their team early in the season.
"The talent is here for our team, but what is working for us early this season is that we have the attitude to go with it," Tipton said.
West seconded the statements by his co-coach.
"I was worried if we had the desire early, but we have it," West said. "The guys practice hard on their off days, and they are playing like we want them to with their attitudes.
"We knew what we had to do in this game and we picked up the intensity. We had to do that to beat (McClain) on their field, and the boys answered."
LC senior keeper Colin Creek finished with 12 saves, eight in the second half. Creek came up with a big save with 18:03 left on the scoreboard.
A scary moment in the game happened with 24:27 remaining in the second half as two players collided in mid air with the LC player leaving the game with an leg injury. McClain had a chance to cut the lead of LC with 24:27 left as the shot bounced off the top of the cross bar.
The win puts the Mustangs, of the Southern Hills League, at 2-0 overall, while the loss drops MHS to 0-2.
Each team's next game will be league games as MHS will host the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles on Thursday.
LC will host Peebles at home in their first SHL game of the year.
BOX SCORE
LC 2 2 — 4
MHS 1 1 — 2
- - - -
Lynchburg-Clay 6, Western Brown 1
In their season opener the LC Mustangs scored three goals in each half to seal a 6-1, five-goal win against Western Brown Tuesday night at WBHS.
Scoring first half goals for LC were Michael Smith, Kaikue Costa and Gage Waits.
In the second half Costa scored twice and freshman Mason Jordan scored with 6:42 left in the game.
Colin Creek finished with six saves.
Gaining assists were Tyler Davidson and Costa.[[In-content Ad]]
Knowing they had to play aggressively to beat the McClain Tigers at McClain Field Wednesday, the Mustangs did just that, scoring two goals early in the first half, along with two in the final 40 minutes to outlast the defending South Central Ohio League champions, 4-2.
The Mustangs (2-0) remembered the toughness displayed by the Tigers last season at their home field, as both teams tied in their non-league matchup one year ago, as coaches Dennis West and Chris Tipton reminded their squad at the start of the week.
"Coming off our first game (against Western Brown) we played well, but I'll tell you, we were very nervous about coming here," West said. "Shawn (Jackson) has an excellent team, and he has the boys playing better and they are accustomed to each other."
But it was the Mustangs who were the better team Wednesday by scoring two goals in the early stages of the first half.
Junior Michael Smith scored two goals within two minutes of one another as he netted goals past the Tigers at the 26:05 and 24:56 marks of the game in the first half.
"Michael came on strong in the second half of last season, and he is our main offensive threat," West said. "But, I want to credit our defense too. They were outstanding tonight."
The two-goal lead by the Mustangs was cut in half by Sam Henry with 16:01 left in the first 40 minutes off a penalty kick. The kick came when the official called a tripping penalty.
"Sam did a really good job for us tonight with his scoring," Jackson said.
In two games this season, the Tigers have scored three goals.
At the 10:26 mark of the opening half, players from each team were warned with a yellow card.
Halfway through the second half, the score read the same as it did at halftime at 2-1; that was until there was 17:22 left in the Highland County rivalry matchup.
At that point of the game, the Mustangs added to their lead with a goal from junior midfielder Kaikue Costa, as he looped around a MHS defender and placed the ball into the middle to right side of the goal.
The scoring by LC wasn't done for the game, with the Mustangs adding their fourth-and final goal with 12:31 left.
LC's final goal came off the foot of junior Tyler Davidson, with the assist from freshman midfielder Gage Waits.
With the scoreboard reading 4-1, the Tigers scored their final goal with Henry scoring his second goal of the game with 11:17 remaining.
"Again, for the second game in a row, we came out flat, but we played much better than last night. But again, we aren't worried about it, and we play Madison-Plains Wednesday, and that will be the start of our SCOL schedule," MHS coach Shawn Jackson said. "The non-league game is important, but we want to win the SCOL title and we'll be back, I'm not too worried. We just need to forget about this loss and get ready for our league schedule."
West and Tipton talked about the mindset of their team early in the season.
"The talent is here for our team, but what is working for us early this season is that we have the attitude to go with it," Tipton said.
West seconded the statements by his co-coach.
"I was worried if we had the desire early, but we have it," West said. "The guys practice hard on their off days, and they are playing like we want them to with their attitudes.
"We knew what we had to do in this game and we picked up the intensity. We had to do that to beat (McClain) on their field, and the boys answered."
LC senior keeper Colin Creek finished with 12 saves, eight in the second half. Creek came up with a big save with 18:03 left on the scoreboard.
A scary moment in the game happened with 24:27 remaining in the second half as two players collided in mid air with the LC player leaving the game with an leg injury. McClain had a chance to cut the lead of LC with 24:27 left as the shot bounced off the top of the cross bar.
The win puts the Mustangs, of the Southern Hills League, at 2-0 overall, while the loss drops MHS to 0-2.
Each team's next game will be league games as MHS will host the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles on Thursday.
LC will host Peebles at home in their first SHL game of the year.
BOX SCORE
LC 2 2 — 4
MHS 1 1 — 2
- - - -
Lynchburg-Clay 6, Western Brown 1
In their season opener the LC Mustangs scored three goals in each half to seal a 6-1, five-goal win against Western Brown Tuesday night at WBHS.
Scoring first half goals for LC were Michael Smith, Kaikue Costa and Gage Waits.
In the second half Costa scored twice and freshman Mason Jordan scored with 6:42 left in the game.
Colin Creek finished with six saves.
Gaining assists were Tyler Davidson and Costa.[[In-content Ad]]