Mustangs bow out in regional semifinals against Fairbanks
Lynchburg-Clay senior Sam Turner is pictured from a 2026 postseason tournament game. (HCP Photo/Stephen Forsha)
The 2026 season of the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs came to a close on Wednesday evening at Herrnstein Field in Chillicothe, as they lost in the Division V Regional Semifinals to the Fairbanks Panthers by a 4-0 score.
LCHS ends the season with an overall record of 16-4-1, as they were also 6-1-1 in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference this season. This postseason, LCHS was 3-1 with victories over Portsmouth West (7-0), Eastern (1-0 with 3-1 PK) and Lucasville Valley (2-1).
Lynchburg-Clay in ’26 won a Southeast District championship for the third time with Jason West as their head coach, and their first one since the 2020 season.
The Panthers (19-2) got rolling early with their first goal coming at the 36:58 mark of the first half when sophomore Ty Schroeder kicked the ball to the back of the net for a 1-0 lead with the assist from senior Matthew Kelley.
That lead later turned to two goals when senior Nolan Baker put the ball past the defense of the Mustangs for a 2-0 advantage with 17:12 remaining in the first half.
FHS added to their lead in the first half with 3:31 left on the clock in Chillicothe when senior Kaden Procuniar put the ball in the back of the net on a penalty kick for the three-goal advantage, as that was the score at the half.
In the second half, Fairbanks added one final goal for their final 4-0 win.
Seniors for the Mustangs are Mason Fisher, Sam Turner, Aric Slack, Alexander VanFleet and Levi Fields.
Fairbanks will play in the regional finals on Sunday, Nov. 8 with a TBA time and location.