Mustangs bounced from postseason by Warriors
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — The first half was completely even between the Eastern Brown Warriors and the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs in the Division III SE District Sectional final match. The second half, not so much, as the Mustangs ran tired at the end, falling 6-2 Wednesday at LCHS.
The No. 4 seeded Mustangs were tied with the No. 5 seeded Warriors at 2-2 after 40 minutes, playing without their leading and third leading scorers in Chaz Lanier and Devin Pierson, while Gage Waits was forced to play the keeper position for the first time this season.
All that eventually overflowed for the Mustangs as they were outscored 4-0 in the second half as EB didn't break the tied score until the 23:19 mark of the second half.
"I couldn't be more proud of a group of kids," LC coach Dennis West said. "We played without some of our top players, and we played well in spite of that."
In the opening half, it was LC who scored first with freshman Brandon Storer scoring with the assist by Josh Bauer at the 12:50 mark of the half. From there, Eastern senior Chase Lawson tied the score at 1-1 with an unassisted goal with 7:44 on the clock.
Lawson then scored the second of what turned out to be a three-goal match 18 seconds later for the 2-1 EB lead.
"Chase (Lawson) is one of the best players in our district," West said.
The Mustangs continued to battle, scoring on a penalty kick by freshman Noah Scott with 5:30 left on the first-half clock.
[[In-content Ad]]From there in the second half, after the goal by junior Landon Hauke of EB with 23:19 left in the second half clinched a 3-2 lead … the entire complexion of the match changed, with all the momentum going to the visitors, a team who defeated LC in their final regular-season match this past Friday, 4-1 and on Aug. 27 by a 3-1 score.
With 20:03 left in the postseason match sophomore Jacob Handra made it a two-goal lead for the Warriors, gaining a goal on a kick near the goal.
The final two EB goals left no doubt the Warriors were leaving LCHS with a win as Lawson gained his hat-trick with 6:14 remaining (with the assist by senior C.J. Knight) and Hauke scored a goal on a breakaway with one defender near him with 2:56 on the clock.
EB's Nathan Scott totaled six saves on 11 LC shots. Waits totaled 21 saves on 32 Eastern shots at goal.
"Gage at goal, being his first time at goal this year, played well," West said. "It may not show in the score, but our defense played outstanding against the circumstances we had.
"The play of Alex Pinkerton, Wesley Smith, Austin Chisman, Jared McLaughlin, Bryce Pfister … those five will be the foundation of our defense next year."
West also spoke about the Mustangs' season in general.
"The boys are already talking about next year, but as far as this year goes, we had a winning record without any seniors, and we had a streak this season after starting the year with some tough losses where we went 7-0-1 in an eight-game span.
"That run showed us what we are capable of achieving. We can build on that for next year. The best part of this is I don't have to say goodbye to any seniors … the entire group is back."
The win moves the Warriors to 12-5 overall. In three games against LC this season, Lawson has scored six goals, while Hauke has five vs. the Mustangs.
LC had no seniors this season.
EB will play again on Monday, Oct. 22, where they will face No. 1 seeded Peebles. In their first tournament match, EB defeated No. 12 seed Piketon 10-0.
The No. 4 seeded Mustangs were tied with the No. 5 seeded Warriors at 2-2 after 40 minutes, playing without their leading and third leading scorers in Chaz Lanier and Devin Pierson, while Gage Waits was forced to play the keeper position for the first time this season.
All that eventually overflowed for the Mustangs as they were outscored 4-0 in the second half as EB didn't break the tied score until the 23:19 mark of the second half.
"I couldn't be more proud of a group of kids," LC coach Dennis West said. "We played without some of our top players, and we played well in spite of that."
In the opening half, it was LC who scored first with freshman Brandon Storer scoring with the assist by Josh Bauer at the 12:50 mark of the half. From there, Eastern senior Chase Lawson tied the score at 1-1 with an unassisted goal with 7:44 on the clock.
Lawson then scored the second of what turned out to be a three-goal match 18 seconds later for the 2-1 EB lead.
"Chase (Lawson) is one of the best players in our district," West said.
The Mustangs continued to battle, scoring on a penalty kick by freshman Noah Scott with 5:30 left on the first-half clock.
[[In-content Ad]]From there in the second half, after the goal by junior Landon Hauke of EB with 23:19 left in the second half clinched a 3-2 lead … the entire complexion of the match changed, with all the momentum going to the visitors, a team who defeated LC in their final regular-season match this past Friday, 4-1 and on Aug. 27 by a 3-1 score.
With 20:03 left in the postseason match sophomore Jacob Handra made it a two-goal lead for the Warriors, gaining a goal on a kick near the goal.
The final two EB goals left no doubt the Warriors were leaving LCHS with a win as Lawson gained his hat-trick with 6:14 remaining (with the assist by senior C.J. Knight) and Hauke scored a goal on a breakaway with one defender near him with 2:56 on the clock.
EB's Nathan Scott totaled six saves on 11 LC shots. Waits totaled 21 saves on 32 Eastern shots at goal.
"Gage at goal, being his first time at goal this year, played well," West said. "It may not show in the score, but our defense played outstanding against the circumstances we had.
"The play of Alex Pinkerton, Wesley Smith, Austin Chisman, Jared McLaughlin, Bryce Pfister … those five will be the foundation of our defense next year."
West also spoke about the Mustangs' season in general.
"The boys are already talking about next year, but as far as this year goes, we had a winning record without any seniors, and we had a streak this season after starting the year with some tough losses where we went 7-0-1 in an eight-game span.
"That run showed us what we are capable of achieving. We can build on that for next year. The best part of this is I don't have to say goodbye to any seniors … the entire group is back."
The win moves the Warriors to 12-5 overall. In three games against LC this season, Lawson has scored six goals, while Hauke has five vs. the Mustangs.
LC had no seniors this season.
EB will play again on Monday, Oct. 22, where they will face No. 1 seeded Peebles. In their first tournament match, EB defeated No. 12 seed Piketon 10-0.