Lady Mustangs continue season; top Eastern Brown
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — The third time was the charm for the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs Tuesday evening against rival Eastern Brown as head coach Dennis West told his team following the match that it was their best performance of the season. For the first time this season, LC defeated the Lady Warriors 2-0, advancing to the Division III SE District Finals.
"We really had to put pressure on their midfield, especially Tressie Lewis because she is their catalyst of their team and their scoring," West said.
West also spoke about the preparation to play EB with the help of team manager and transfer student Abbey Rowe, who was unable to play this season but is still a big part of the Lady Mustangs' success behind the scenes.
"We had Abbey be Tressie in practice," West said. "Abbey is one of the better players in the area but just was unable to play for us this year. Having a player like her on your scout team is invaluable. It worked out well for us.
"This was the best 80 minutes I've seen the girls play all year."
This season, the Lady Mustangs had lost to EB in a non-league match and tied their Southern Hills League foe, which cost LC their golden soccer ball for an undefeated and untied league season.
On Tuesday at Lynchburg-Clay High School, the match and victory finally belongs to the Lady Mustangs as they scored two second-half goals off the foot of Shelby Stewart with the assist from Taylor Scott to gain the district semifinal win.
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Stewart's first goal came with 38:36 remaining in regulation as she kicked the ball to the left side of the goal, within inches of a diving keeper before she could reach it, for the 1-0 lead.
LC continued to pressure the Lady Warriors throughout the entire second half, as the offense out-shot EB 20-6 with EB gaining just two shots at goal in the entire second half.
With LC gaining a majority of the shots on goal, it was just a matter of time before the Lady Mustangs added to their lead … that time came with 13:14 left in the half when Stewart scored off a rebound in a big group of players, as Scott's goal attempt was blocked and Stewart capitalized off the rebound for her second goal of the match and a 2-0 LC advantage.
"I'm really happy with the play of Shelby (Tuesday)," West said. "She's been forcing shots lately, but in this match, she was patient, and the results showed.
"In that second goal, I was proud of the effort by Shelby, Taylor (Scott) and everyone who was involved with keeping the pressure on their defense. That second goal gave us that two-goal cushion."
LC kept the shutout with big defensive play from senior keeper Emma Setty (seven saves) and defensive players Ali Little (freshman), Alexa Cochran (freshman), MyKenzie Reynolds (sophomore), Sarah Rosselott (junior) and Chelsi Hacker (freshman).
"Our defense was fantastic," West said. "They are a young group and played really well."
LC will play in the district final on Saturday, Oct. 27 on the turf field of Athens High School as they will face No. 1 seeded Coshocton at 1 p.m. CHS defeated Steubenville Catholic Central 1-0 on Oct. 18. Coshocton is ranked No. 9 in the OSSCA State Girls Soccer Poll.
"We really had to put pressure on their midfield, especially Tressie Lewis because she is their catalyst of their team and their scoring," West said.
West also spoke about the preparation to play EB with the help of team manager and transfer student Abbey Rowe, who was unable to play this season but is still a big part of the Lady Mustangs' success behind the scenes.
"We had Abbey be Tressie in practice," West said. "Abbey is one of the better players in the area but just was unable to play for us this year. Having a player like her on your scout team is invaluable. It worked out well for us.
"This was the best 80 minutes I've seen the girls play all year."
This season, the Lady Mustangs had lost to EB in a non-league match and tied their Southern Hills League foe, which cost LC their golden soccer ball for an undefeated and untied league season.
On Tuesday at Lynchburg-Clay High School, the match and victory finally belongs to the Lady Mustangs as they scored two second-half goals off the foot of Shelby Stewart with the assist from Taylor Scott to gain the district semifinal win.
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Stewart's first goal came with 38:36 remaining in regulation as she kicked the ball to the left side of the goal, within inches of a diving keeper before she could reach it, for the 1-0 lead.
LC continued to pressure the Lady Warriors throughout the entire second half, as the offense out-shot EB 20-6 with EB gaining just two shots at goal in the entire second half.
With LC gaining a majority of the shots on goal, it was just a matter of time before the Lady Mustangs added to their lead … that time came with 13:14 left in the half when Stewart scored off a rebound in a big group of players, as Scott's goal attempt was blocked and Stewart capitalized off the rebound for her second goal of the match and a 2-0 LC advantage.
"I'm really happy with the play of Shelby (Tuesday)," West said. "She's been forcing shots lately, but in this match, she was patient, and the results showed.
"In that second goal, I was proud of the effort by Shelby, Taylor (Scott) and everyone who was involved with keeping the pressure on their defense. That second goal gave us that two-goal cushion."
LC kept the shutout with big defensive play from senior keeper Emma Setty (seven saves) and defensive players Ali Little (freshman), Alexa Cochran (freshman), MyKenzie Reynolds (sophomore), Sarah Rosselott (junior) and Chelsi Hacker (freshman).
"Our defense was fantastic," West said. "They are a young group and played really well."
LC will play in the district final on Saturday, Oct. 27 on the turf field of Athens High School as they will face No. 1 seeded Coshocton at 1 p.m. CHS defeated Steubenville Catholic Central 1-0 on Oct. 18. Coshocton is ranked No. 9 in the OSSCA State Girls Soccer Poll.