Mustangs gallop to district finals

     DODSONVILLE – Playing stingy defense, with a breakaway offense in the second half, the Lynchburg-Clay boys soccer team out-dueled rival Eastern Brown 3-0 Monday evening to advance to the Division III SE District final.

     This will be the Mustangs’ fourth trip to the district finals in 11 years, with their last trip coming in ’06.

     “We are playing good soccer right now, and this game gave us a chance to beat one of the three teams who beat us during the regular season,” West said. “We defended well and we were trying to keep the pressure on offensively. It was non-existent in September when we played them, but (Monday) we kept the pressure on.”

     The Mustangs scored the only goal in the first half when senior Wes Yeomans assisted sophomore Tyler Davidson, on a free kick, with Davidson scoring on a header for the 1-0 lead.

     “They (Eastern) had us on our heels in the early part of the game, but we settled down and played well for the rest of the game,” West said.

     L-C continued to pressure the Warriors in the second half with sophomore forward Michael Smith netting the first goal of the second half, while being defend, at the 29:25 mark. The assist was credited to Davidson.

     After a diving save from junior keeper Colin Creek with 28:00 left in regulation, L-C made the score 3-0 with another goal by Smith, as Davidson, again, brought the ball to the net, passing to Smith for the assist.

     Creek kept the shutout in tact with a one-handed, leaping save off a kick by Eastern Brown with 5:47 left in the final 40 minute half. Creek finished with seven saves.

     EB and L-C each took 15 shots at goal.

     The Mustangs (10-3-4) will now play Saturday at 4 p.m. at VA Memorial Stadium, in Chillicothe in the district final.

     “I am really proud of our seniors, they have played their hearts out, especially in the two tournament games,” West said. “Our two sophomores up front (Davidson and Smith), were outrageously wonderful. Michael (Smith) is going off in the last half of the season. He stepped in for an injured player and has played out of this world.

     “He is unselfish, but sometimes I wish he was selfish,” West said. “I am proud of this entire team.”

     This was the first district game played on the new L-C soccer field.

SCORE BY HALF

EBHS – 0 0 – 0

LCHS – 1 2 – 3