LC Lady Mustangs win over Alexander; will defend district championship

HILLSBORO — Once again, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs will have the opportunity to defend a district championship.

On Monday night at Hillsboro High School in their Division III SE District Semifinal game, the Lady Mustangs scored goals in each had to secure a spot in the district finals for a 12th consecutive year, defeating Albany Alexander 5-0.

“It’s something that we kind of expect out of our program,” head coach Dennis West said of defending their district championship. “We expect our kids to come in to the year knowing that's one of our goals, to get back there and defend that title. They all know it. They come into our program, and the kids that have been here, if they don't realize that, those kids will inform them that we have expectations, and this is what we're working for.”

The Lady Mustangs led 2-0 at halftime thanks to senior Jade Massey scoring on a header off a corner kick from Lainie Lunsford for the 1-0 lead with 26:36 on the clock.

The second goal of the Lady Mustangs was a goal scored by Haidyn Wolfe as she kicked a high ball that sailed over the keeper and into the back of the net. The assist went to Aubrey Slack, as the goal was scored with 17:15 left in the first half.

With a two-goal lead at halftime, and entering the second half, the offense of the Lady Mustangs gained momentum and never looked back with Massey scoring her second goal of the game as she scored the goal off a rebound from a goalie save, giving the “ady Mustangs a 3-0 lead with 28:14 left in regulation.

LC’s lead went to four goals off an Alexander own goal, and the fifth goal was a Massey goal for a hat-trick with 11:05 left in the game, as she beat the defense of Alexander for the final 5-0 lead.

Massey has 40 goals this season, and thus far in her career has amassed 81 goals.

“She’s just hard to defend,” West said of Massey. “She can go get the ball on her own, she can finish on her own and create shots and create passes to set up her teammates. She’s just an all-round package.

“We got good play from a boatload of kids tonight. I’m just happy. We started out a little sluggish. I don't know whether it was nerves, but the second half was more like it — we're forcing the issues, pressure and being way aggressive, moving the ball around all. We did a little bit the first half, but the second half, we did a much better job of doing what we need to do to be successful.”

This postseason, the Lady Mustangs have also defeated Chesapeake by an 11-0 score, giving LCHS a 16-0 point differential against their two tournament opponents.

The Lady Mustangs’ defense hasn’t allowed a goal since Oct. 6 against the Fairfield Lady Lions, as FHS is also playing for a district championship on Thursday.

“It starts with the two in the middle,” West said. “Our back line, Lainie Lunsford and Olivia Van Fleet — they've just been crazy good all year long. Addie Downing and Samantha Merry are both in full-time roles back there, and they have just improved so much over last year and the year before.

“You might get it past one of the four, but you won't get past very many times, all four of them. They just cover for each other, and they play that defense the way it's supposed to be played.”

Looking closer at LC’s defense, they have allowed just seven goals all season and no more than two in a game in 2023.

“I tell them all, I don't care where you're at on the field, you play defense,” West said. “Our midfielders really have done wonders for us. Aubrey Slack is just incredible in that middle. She's not very big, but man, she just creates havoc with the other team’s offense. She just gets the balls that she has no business getting to.

“We gave up some shots tonight, but our last three games, we hadn't given up a shot. They just take pride in it. My defense last year was good; this defense this year might be the best I've ever coached. They just are quick, really good handling the ball.”

LC now stands with an overall record of 13-0-4 and are scheduled to play for a district championship on Thursday, Oct. 26 against the No. 5 seeded North Adams Lady Green Devils at 6 p.m. at Valley High School.

LCHS has won four consecutive district championships, and nine district championships in the past 10 seasons, falling in 2018.

BOX SCORE
AHS    0 0 — 0
LCHS    2 3 — 5