District Final Preview: Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs looking to repeat as champs

On Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs will attempt to gain their second consecutive Division III SE District championship, but they will have to avoid the wrath of the West Muskingum Lady Tornadoes to do so.

Thus far, the Lady Mustangs have owned the postseason, even as they've had to play through not the best weather conditions. In their sectional final against Peebles and district semifinal match North Adams, LC has outscored their opponents, 11-0.

Those numbers are just the start for the Division III No. 9 state-ranked and No. 1 seeded Lady Mustangs, as they are 16-1-1, including a 17-game streak without a loss, losing their season opener to the Western Brown Lady Broncos, 1-0.

Following their district semifinal win, West praised his team.

"The district finals is a goal we have every year," West said. "There are years when you just want to make it to the districts, and then there are other years where you make the districts and expect to do something.

"This group has been one of those groups that you expect good things from them by the way they play and the way they perform on the field. They are just excellent soccer players, as individuals and they mesh together as a team as good as any team I've coached ... boys or girls."

During the district final match last season, LC defeated Bishop Rosecrans, 1-0, then in the regionals took down West Muskingum by a 4-1 score.

So these two programs in the '14 district finals are no strangers.

This season for West Muskingum, they have a record of below .500 at 7-11 overall, but they have won their two tournament matches thus far by scores of 3-0 against Hiland (Berlin) and 7-1 against Coshocton in the district semifinals.

In an article by the Zanesville Times Recorder, it said West Muskingum led by a 3-0 score at halftime in their district semifinal match and scored four more goals in the second half, wrapping up their scoring with 16:22 left in regulation. 

As for the No. 1 seeded and reigning district champion Lady Mustangs, they've caused a lot of damage all season long. In their 16 wins, they went undefeated in Southern Hills Athletic Conference play for a second straight year, and overall have still allowed just 16 goals all season.

LC is averaging 6.9 goals per game, with sophomores and twin sisters McKayla and Hannah Binkley each scoring 16 goals thus far this season.

In total, LC has six players with at least 10 goals each, including Sydney Cromer (14), Angela McLaughlin (12), Morgan Fittro (12) and Keanna Oaks (10).

Leading the Lady Mustangs in assists are Sam Whitenack, Shelby Chisman and Alexa Cochran, each with eight assists this season.

Even the two keepers of the Lady Mustangs have put up some great numbers thus far, with Sabrina Duncan and Bailey Leininger combining for a total of 10 shutouts and 64 saves, with Leininger having 34 and Duncan with 30.

To keep the current scoreless streak going this postseason, two players LC must account for from WMHS are Shahrzad Frost and Kaitlyn Graham, who combined for six of the seven goals in their district semifinal match.

The district final match at Athens High School will start at 4 p.m.