Late goals lead to LC victory over Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — This year, there was no tied score with the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs and the McClain Tigers, though it was close to being a repeat from last season.
On Monday, the score was tied 1-1 following the first half and stayed that way until the the 8:13 mark of the final half, with the Mustangs eventually winning the physical match by a 3-2 score against one of their Highland County rivals.
"I was having flashbacks of last year, and not good ones," LC head coach Dennis West said. "This was a very intense match … it was like a tournament game.
"Our continued hard play and playing hard the whole game is what I like to see. We didn't do that last year, and it cost us. The past two games we've played hard for all 80 minutes. We've been working on that the past two seasons, but our bench is deeper this year, and that helps."
Last year, LC and MHS tied at 3-3 with MHS scoring two goals in the final minutes.
The go-ahead goal by the Mustangs that broke the one-goal tie at the 8:13 mark came from senior Chaz Lanier with the assist by junior Tristan Wilbanks.
In what turned out to be an even bigger goal for the Mustangs, sophomore Noah Scott put the Mustangs ahead by two goals with 6:12 left in the match with an unassisted goal from the corner.
Scott scored two goals in the match as he initially tied the score at 1-1 with 49 seconds left in the first half with the assist by Lanier.
The Tigers (0-1-2) battled as well, as they were the first to score a goal in the inter-county match with senior Juan Rivas putting the ball into the back of the goal with 13:53 left in the opening half. Assisting in the goal was sophomore Tommy Henry with a kick from the corner.
"McClain is a very good team," West said. "They have quickness and play very well. They never gave in."
MHS made the game a bit closer in the second half, cutting their two-goal deficit in half with a goal from junior Lincoln O'Connor with 2:16 left in the match as his goal came on a backwards header off a kick by junior Zack Harper.
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"This is a tough loss," MHS head coach Jon Chamblin said. "We had a tough game Saturday, and (Monday) we played a little tired and flat. We made defensive errors late, and that isn't like us.
"Our passing could have been sharper up front. We have a young team but we are coming together. Hopefully this game is an eye opener."
Both teams had numerous opportunities to score goals or tie the score throughout the second half, and before the goal by Lanier, each team played up to high standards defensively.
MHS keeper Cameron Spangler had a timely save at the 22:30 mark of the second half, and later, the Tigers' defense kicked away a corner kick opportunity by the Mustangs at the 19:40 mark.
Spangler finished the match with eight saves, including six in the second half. LC keeper Devin Pierson finished with 12 saves, seven in the second half.
LC also collected three yellow cards in the win.
This season, the Tigers have tied with Unioto and Waverly. As for the Mustangs, they've defeated Georgetown (9-1) and Eastern Brown (3-0). Their lone loss came to Western Brown (2-1).
LC will play again Wednesday when they host Fayetteville in SHAC play. The Tigers host the Miami Trace Panthers in SCOL action.
BOX SCORE
MHS 1 1 — 2
LC 1 2 — 3
On Monday, the score was tied 1-1 following the first half and stayed that way until the the 8:13 mark of the final half, with the Mustangs eventually winning the physical match by a 3-2 score against one of their Highland County rivals.
"I was having flashbacks of last year, and not good ones," LC head coach Dennis West said. "This was a very intense match … it was like a tournament game.
"Our continued hard play and playing hard the whole game is what I like to see. We didn't do that last year, and it cost us. The past two games we've played hard for all 80 minutes. We've been working on that the past two seasons, but our bench is deeper this year, and that helps."
Last year, LC and MHS tied at 3-3 with MHS scoring two goals in the final minutes.
The go-ahead goal by the Mustangs that broke the one-goal tie at the 8:13 mark came from senior Chaz Lanier with the assist by junior Tristan Wilbanks.
In what turned out to be an even bigger goal for the Mustangs, sophomore Noah Scott put the Mustangs ahead by two goals with 6:12 left in the match with an unassisted goal from the corner.
Scott scored two goals in the match as he initially tied the score at 1-1 with 49 seconds left in the first half with the assist by Lanier.
The Tigers (0-1-2) battled as well, as they were the first to score a goal in the inter-county match with senior Juan Rivas putting the ball into the back of the goal with 13:53 left in the opening half. Assisting in the goal was sophomore Tommy Henry with a kick from the corner.
"McClain is a very good team," West said. "They have quickness and play very well. They never gave in."
MHS made the game a bit closer in the second half, cutting their two-goal deficit in half with a goal from junior Lincoln O'Connor with 2:16 left in the match as his goal came on a backwards header off a kick by junior Zack Harper.
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"This is a tough loss," MHS head coach Jon Chamblin said. "We had a tough game Saturday, and (Monday) we played a little tired and flat. We made defensive errors late, and that isn't like us.
"Our passing could have been sharper up front. We have a young team but we are coming together. Hopefully this game is an eye opener."
Both teams had numerous opportunities to score goals or tie the score throughout the second half, and before the goal by Lanier, each team played up to high standards defensively.
MHS keeper Cameron Spangler had a timely save at the 22:30 mark of the second half, and later, the Tigers' defense kicked away a corner kick opportunity by the Mustangs at the 19:40 mark.
Spangler finished the match with eight saves, including six in the second half. LC keeper Devin Pierson finished with 12 saves, seven in the second half.
LC also collected three yellow cards in the win.
This season, the Tigers have tied with Unioto and Waverly. As for the Mustangs, they've defeated Georgetown (9-1) and Eastern Brown (3-0). Their lone loss came to Western Brown (2-1).
LC will play again Wednesday when they host Fayetteville in SHAC play. The Tigers host the Miami Trace Panthers in SCOL action.
BOX SCORE
MHS 1 1 — 2
LC 1 2 — 3