Mustangs win second straight sectional title

     DODONVILLE – Add another Division III SE District Sectional championship to the accomplishments of the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs boys soccer team, as they won their second consecutive sectional title Wednesday night, defeating the North Adams Green Devils 7-1 at Lynchburg-Clay High School.

     The Mustangs got to honor their seniors at halftime, with seniors including: Kyle Davis, Jorden DeHaas, Dean Foley, Andrew Magie, Brandon McCarthy, Aaron Skaggs and Wes Yeomans.

     “The seniors had a great four years,” Lynchburg-Clay coach Dennis West said. “This was their third sectional title in four years, and they played outstanding soccer.”

     The sectional win now gives the Mustangs eight sectional championships in their history, with their first one coming back in 2000.

     But on Wednesday evening the Mustangs dominated in each way a game can be dominated by one team.

     In the first half L-C gained a three-goal advantage, taking 13 shots in the first 40 minutes.

     Sophomore Tyler Davidson scored first for the Mustangs, with the assist from sophomore Andrew Chaney for the early advantage.

     With 18:22 left in the first half senior Wes Yeomans scored an unassisted goal for the two-goal lead.

     The final goal of the opening half was from sophomore Michael Smith, with the assist from Yeomans on a corner kick.

     “The first half was the best soccer we have played all year,” West said. “Our second half was close to being our best soccer of the year. We got everyone to play, especially in the last 30 minutes. We had seniors playing defense and we just switched things around.”

     Davidson netted his second goal of the game at the start of the second half, nailing the ball into the back of the net with 36:29, as the sophomore forward controlled the ball for over half the field, and gained the point for the Mustangs.

     With 18:49 remaining in regulation, the Mustangs put the game out of reach with DeHaas beating two North Adams defenders, kicking the ball into the right side of the goal for a 5-0 lead.

     Kyle Davis gave L-C a six-goal advantage with a kick, which angled, past the diving keeper with 9:40 left in the game.

     Twenty-four seconds later the Mustangs struck again with a goal from sophomore Wesley Pierson.

     North Adams broke up the shutout with 5:31 left in the game, scoring a goal to make the score 7-1.

     “They (North Adams) have a good team,” West said. “They are young, but ran into us when we played our best game. This was the third straight year we had to face North Adams in the sectionals. We were kind of nervous with memories of game from a couple weeks ago, and the game three years ago, when we had balls bouncing of each post on the goal.

     “Our passing (Wednesday) was the best I’ve seen from us.”

     The Mustangs will host their first district game of '09 on Monday at 5 p.m., when they will face the winner of the Peebles and Eastern Brown game.

     The wins lifts L-C to 9-3-4 overall.

SCORE BY HALF

NAHS – 0 1 – 1

LCHS – 3 4 – 7