Lynchburg-Clay has high expectations for '14
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs head coach Dennis West knows what his girls soccer team did last season could be the start of something special with the LC program.
Last year, the Lady Mustangs went 19-1-1 overall, going undefeated in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference at 7-0 and finishing 4-1 in the Division III postseason. They became just the second team in LC girls soccer history to reach the regional finals.
Also for the Lady Mustangs one year ago (who were the No. 6 Div. III state-ranked team), they scored 104 total goals and held their opponents to 10 goals all season, including just three goals allowed in the postseason.
[[In-content Ad]]The Lady Mustangs also had 14 shutouts in 21 matches in '13. At one point last season, LC won 14 consecutive games.
LC lost to Middletown Bishop Fenwick at Bellbrook High School in the Division III Regional Finals by a 2-0 score, but that is just used as motivation for the ladies this season with West saying the expectations are there to get back to where they were last season.
One player returning for LC is Div. III First-Team All-Ohio player Sydney Cromer. Other players retiring are All-District honorees in Keanna Oaks, Hannah Binkley, Alexa Cochran, Ali Little and McKayla Binkley.
In the postseason last year, LC scored 17 straight goals before allowing their first goal in the tournament … in the regional semifinals, where they defeated the West Muskingum Lady Tornadoes, 4-1.
"Hopefully getting as close as we did to the final four last year, that gives the girls something to work for," West (the SE District Div. III Coach of the Year) told The Highland County Press. We've upped our non-conference schedule and the training has got more involved.
"We have a great group of girls, and the incoming class of freshmen are talented. We want to recreate the play of last year."
West said he knows his team is capable of getting back to the regionals.
"The girls are capable of it," West said of last season’s success. "We've put a lot of time and effort, and we realize the success won't be handed to us. We have to earn it and work for it."
The summer for the Lady Mustangs has been good thus far, playing in summer tournaments and scrimmages. One positive for LC this season is they will be able to have a full JV team to play a complete schedule, something they haven't had in the past.
LC's JV team will be coached by former player Desi (Mount) Sabetti. At the varsity level the assistant head coach will be another former player, Wendy Martin.
"We did well in two summer tournaments at Wright State hosted by Fairborn High School," West said. "The JV girls went 3-1, and the varsity were 1-1-2.
"We also went to Mason and did well there. Both teams did well, with the JV going 4-1 and the varsity at 3-1-1."
LC has also scrimmaged at Wilmington, as West said of his team he wants to older players to pass on what they've learned.
"I want the older players to pass on to the younger players what they are learning," he said. "We have a great group of upperclassmen, and I hope they make the younger players better by setting the example."
Even with all the success and returning players, West said there is still plenty to improve upon this season.
"First, we want to speed up the game even more than we did last year," he said. "The quicker we are, the better we are. Also, our passing is better, but one thing we must improve dramatically is our touch."
Another improvement for the LC soccer program is their facilities, as they have added lights to their soccer field, allowing them to have night him games for the first time.
"The work the school has put into the facilities here has been outstanding," West said. "The bleacher space has doubled, and we are all excited about it."
West went back to the expectations he has for the team this season.
"I'm going to be disappointed if we aren't back at the districts and do just as well as we did last season," he said. "If we do that, we are back in the regionals, and we'll work from there.
"To get back and make a long tournament run, we'll have to avoid injuries."
LC opens the '14 season on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Western Brown in a non-conference game. On Monday, Aug. 18, LC will play at Greenfield against the McClain Lady Tigers.
Last year, the Lady Mustangs went 19-1-1 overall, going undefeated in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference at 7-0 and finishing 4-1 in the Division III postseason. They became just the second team in LC girls soccer history to reach the regional finals.
Also for the Lady Mustangs one year ago (who were the No. 6 Div. III state-ranked team), they scored 104 total goals and held their opponents to 10 goals all season, including just three goals allowed in the postseason.
[[In-content Ad]]The Lady Mustangs also had 14 shutouts in 21 matches in '13. At one point last season, LC won 14 consecutive games.
LC lost to Middletown Bishop Fenwick at Bellbrook High School in the Division III Regional Finals by a 2-0 score, but that is just used as motivation for the ladies this season with West saying the expectations are there to get back to where they were last season.
One player returning for LC is Div. III First-Team All-Ohio player Sydney Cromer. Other players retiring are All-District honorees in Keanna Oaks, Hannah Binkley, Alexa Cochran, Ali Little and McKayla Binkley.
In the postseason last year, LC scored 17 straight goals before allowing their first goal in the tournament … in the regional semifinals, where they defeated the West Muskingum Lady Tornadoes, 4-1.
"Hopefully getting as close as we did to the final four last year, that gives the girls something to work for," West (the SE District Div. III Coach of the Year) told The Highland County Press. We've upped our non-conference schedule and the training has got more involved.
"We have a great group of girls, and the incoming class of freshmen are talented. We want to recreate the play of last year."
West said he knows his team is capable of getting back to the regionals.
"The girls are capable of it," West said of last season’s success. "We've put a lot of time and effort, and we realize the success won't be handed to us. We have to earn it and work for it."
The summer for the Lady Mustangs has been good thus far, playing in summer tournaments and scrimmages. One positive for LC this season is they will be able to have a full JV team to play a complete schedule, something they haven't had in the past.
LC's JV team will be coached by former player Desi (Mount) Sabetti. At the varsity level the assistant head coach will be another former player, Wendy Martin.
"We did well in two summer tournaments at Wright State hosted by Fairborn High School," West said. "The JV girls went 3-1, and the varsity were 1-1-2.
"We also went to Mason and did well there. Both teams did well, with the JV going 4-1 and the varsity at 3-1-1."
LC has also scrimmaged at Wilmington, as West said of his team he wants to older players to pass on what they've learned.
"I want the older players to pass on to the younger players what they are learning," he said. "We have a great group of upperclassmen, and I hope they make the younger players better by setting the example."
Even with all the success and returning players, West said there is still plenty to improve upon this season.
"First, we want to speed up the game even more than we did last year," he said. "The quicker we are, the better we are. Also, our passing is better, but one thing we must improve dramatically is our touch."
Another improvement for the LC soccer program is their facilities, as they have added lights to their soccer field, allowing them to have night him games for the first time.
"The work the school has put into the facilities here has been outstanding," West said. "The bleacher space has doubled, and we are all excited about it."
West went back to the expectations he has for the team this season.
"I'm going to be disappointed if we aren't back at the districts and do just as well as we did last season," he said. "If we do that, we are back in the regionals, and we'll work from there.
"To get back and make a long tournament run, we'll have to avoid injuries."
LC opens the '14 season on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Western Brown in a non-conference game. On Monday, Aug. 18, LC will play at Greenfield against the McClain Lady Tigers.