Lady Mustangs defeat Eastern; move to district finals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
For the third straight season, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs have advanced to the Division III SE Districts Final with a defeat of the Eastern Brown Lady Warriors by a 3-0 score, Tuesday at LCHS.
LC, with the win, improved to 17-0-1 overall this season as the reigning Southern Hills Athletic champions have defeated the Lady Warriors three times this season by regular-season scores of 6-2 and 7-1.
"Eastern played much better than in the previous two games," LC coach Dennis West said.
The Lady Mustangs led 2-0 at halftime as their first goal didn't come until the 14:11 mark of the opening half when freshman Hannah Binkley kicked the ball to the left side of the net for the 1-0 advantage. The 18-yard goal was assisted off a pass from junior Morgan Fittro.
LC added to their lead with just 2:33 left in the opening half of district play with a goal from freshman Lexi Waits off a header. The assist went to sophomore Alexa Cochran off a corner kick that bounced off an EB player near the goal.
First-half LC keeper sophomore Bailey Leininger made a leaping, one-handed stop with 29 seconds left in the first half that kept the Lady Mustangs ahead by two goals.
Leininger totaled five saves in the first half.
In the second half, junior Keanna Oaks made it a three-goal lead with 19:42 left in the match, as her goal was assisted by junior Sydney Cromer.
In the second half, LC keeper freshman Sabrina Duncan totaled 10 saves. LC out-shot the visiting Warriors, 17-15.
LC head coach Dennis West spoke about his keepers and the keeper of EB.
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"Eastern played better because of their keeper, Alex Davis," he said. "She's just an outstanding keeper. She's quick, makes saves and elevates the team. She didn't play the last match we had against them, and (Tuesday), she made a big difference.
"Our keepers played a good game as well, both of them."
West also spoke about making it to the district finals for a third straight year.
"It is nice to get there (district finals), but we would like to go on in the tournament," he said. "The girls are intent on doing whatever they need to do to get over that hump.
"When you get to the district finals, you'll see a lot of tough teams."
In the past two seasons in the district finals, LC has lost to West Muskingum (in 2011) by a 2-1 score in a shootout at West Muskingum, and to Coshocton last season, 5-2 in Athens.
LC is 1-4 in the district finals since 2002, with their district championship coming in 2006 as year they reached the regional championship.
The Lady Mustangs will play the district final game on Saturday, Oct. 26 at West Muskingum High School which will start roughly between 3:30-4 p.m. as it is the second game of the day at WMHS. The first game at the venue starts at 1 p.m.
LC will be facing No. 2 seeded Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans in the district final. BRHS defeated No. 3 seeded Cochocton, 4-2 in their district semifinal match. They've also defeated No. 5 seeded Berlin Hiland, 2-0 this postseason.
LC, with the win, improved to 17-0-1 overall this season as the reigning Southern Hills Athletic champions have defeated the Lady Warriors three times this season by regular-season scores of 6-2 and 7-1.
"Eastern played much better than in the previous two games," LC coach Dennis West said.
The Lady Mustangs led 2-0 at halftime as their first goal didn't come until the 14:11 mark of the opening half when freshman Hannah Binkley kicked the ball to the left side of the net for the 1-0 advantage. The 18-yard goal was assisted off a pass from junior Morgan Fittro.
LC added to their lead with just 2:33 left in the opening half of district play with a goal from freshman Lexi Waits off a header. The assist went to sophomore Alexa Cochran off a corner kick that bounced off an EB player near the goal.
First-half LC keeper sophomore Bailey Leininger made a leaping, one-handed stop with 29 seconds left in the first half that kept the Lady Mustangs ahead by two goals.
Leininger totaled five saves in the first half.
In the second half, junior Keanna Oaks made it a three-goal lead with 19:42 left in the match, as her goal was assisted by junior Sydney Cromer.
In the second half, LC keeper freshman Sabrina Duncan totaled 10 saves. LC out-shot the visiting Warriors, 17-15.
LC head coach Dennis West spoke about his keepers and the keeper of EB.
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"Eastern played better because of their keeper, Alex Davis," he said. "She's just an outstanding keeper. She's quick, makes saves and elevates the team. She didn't play the last match we had against them, and (Tuesday), she made a big difference.
"Our keepers played a good game as well, both of them."
West also spoke about making it to the district finals for a third straight year.
"It is nice to get there (district finals), but we would like to go on in the tournament," he said. "The girls are intent on doing whatever they need to do to get over that hump.
"When you get to the district finals, you'll see a lot of tough teams."
In the past two seasons in the district finals, LC has lost to West Muskingum (in 2011) by a 2-1 score in a shootout at West Muskingum, and to Coshocton last season, 5-2 in Athens.
LC is 1-4 in the district finals since 2002, with their district championship coming in 2006 as year they reached the regional championship.
The Lady Mustangs will play the district final game on Saturday, Oct. 26 at West Muskingum High School which will start roughly between 3:30-4 p.m. as it is the second game of the day at WMHS. The first game at the venue starts at 1 p.m.
LC will be facing No. 2 seeded Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans in the district final. BRHS defeated No. 3 seeded Cochocton, 4-2 in their district semifinal match. They've also defeated No. 5 seeded Berlin Hiland, 2-0 this postseason.