Sat Feb 04 2012
The beginning of one local team's quest for a district championship was the end of another's season Monday night at Sower Soccer Field as Franklin County beat Frankfort High in the first round of tournament play 4-1.
FCHS coach Zac Donnelly said the Flyers have adopted a new philosophy in the last month of the season: Win each half. Against the Panthers, they did just that.
"I thought we played well and took care of business," Donnelly said. "We have a new philosophy since the Anderson County game just to come out and win one half at a time. Since then, that's what we've been doing.
"I've been trying to tell them not to look ahead. It doesn't matter who we play next because if you don't win that current game there is no next."
Neither team could muster much pressure on goal in the game's opening minutes with the first shot of the game being batted up and over the goal by FHS goalkeeper Clint Slugantz in the 30th minute. After that, however, the Flyers poured it on, raining 16 shots on goal in the first half to Frankfort High's two.
Bryce Burton gave Franklin County the lead at the 24:16 mark on a dribble up the right sideline that he shot across the front of the goal past the outstretched arms of Slugantz. The Flyers added to their lead 12 minutes later when Oscar Urbina looped a high-arching shot over the defense and into the net to make the score 2-0.
The Panthers struggled to find open looks at the net in the game, registering four shots in 80 minutes of play, but FHS broke through in the closing seconds of the first half.
Eli Purdy scored on a rebound with six seconds left in the first half to make the score 2-1 at halftime. The score came after a jump ball between Andrew LeMay and keeper Tyler Pewitt bounced off the left post and settled in front of the goal.
FHS coach Sherrill Smith said his team felt good about the way it responded in the first half.
"I asked my kids to give me a 110 percent and more and that's what they did," Smith said. "It was 2-1 at halftime and we felt good about it."
In the second half, the Flyers took advantage of their depth, earning seven corner kicks and tacking on two more goals midway through the period. Burton added a second score off an assist from Urbina and drew a penalty kick when he was fouled in the box. Tyler Crombie converted to make the final 4-1.
Both teams were missing important components from the regular season in the game. The Flyers played without senior defender Adam Jones, who had to sit out after receiving two yellow cards last time out against Lexington Christian, while the Panthers played with a depleted bench due to fall break.
"I'm proud of my kids because we came out and had three subs on the bench," Smith said. "(Franklin County) had the numbers to constantly sub, and I worked our subbing as much as I could."
Smith said the Panthers' season was rewarding because of the development he saw in players " some who never played soccer until this year.
"We had some kids that we taught how to play soccer and it was exciting to see those kids work hard and develop because this is more than just soccer, it's working to try to teach them how to be better citizens," he said.
Donnelly said he was pleased with the Flyers' play, especially without one of their senior leaders on the back line.
"I'm happy with the way we played," Donnelly said. "We were playing without one of our leaders, and I thought the guys adjusted well."
The Flyers advance to play top-seeded Woodford County in second round action tonight. FCHS lost to the Yellow Jackets 1-0 in the first week of the season on a last-second goal in their only meeting this year. The Flyers gave up a similar goal to end the first half against Frankfort High, and Donnelly said that is something that can't happen if the Flyers are to advance to the district championship game.
"It's going to be a hard-fought game, and it's probably going to come down to who makes the least amount of mistakes, who can finish," he said. "Last time we had quite a few opportunities to finish and just didn't have composure in front of the goal."
Donnelly said the Flyers' season-long goal has been to win the district championship. A win Tuesday would put them one step closer.
"All I can ask is that they go out and play hard for 80 minutes and I expect us to do that," he said.
WHHS 4, Owen Co. 1
This time there were no surprises.
After dropping the regular-season match to Owen County in the Capital City Classic 2-1, Western Hills won the match that mattered most, beating the Rebels in the first round of the district tournament 4-1.
Emmanuel Nfor scored a hat trick and Bryan Murphy added a goal for the Wolverines.
WHHS coach Scott Cress said Western Hills was ready for Owen County this time.
"Because they did sneak up on us last time, we knew we weren't going to let them sneak up on us again," he said.
"We just played our game. We maintained possession of the ball and we made our passes. We were getting Michael (Goss) and Emmanuel (Nfor) out on the run and when we get them running, good things are going to happen for us."
Cress said that WHHS midfielders Justin Ramirez and Ian Claus controlled the middle, allowing Nfor to find goal opportunities.
"They held the middle down for us and distributed the ball really well," he said.
"(Nfor) was helping us out defensively from up top by applying pressure and then just coming in, getting on the run and putting the ball in the back of the net."
The Wolverines face Anderson County Tuesday in the semifinal. Western Hills lost to the Bearcats 2-1 in the regular season partially because Anderson County took advantage of Western Hills' miscues.
"That's why they beat us last time," Cress said. "We had a couple mistakes and they scored on those mistakes. If we can eliminate mistakes and play the way we did tonight, I think we'll have a chance of giving them a good game."
25th District boys tourney
at Sower Soccer Field
MONDAY
Franklin Co. 4, Frankfort 1
Western Hills 4, Owen Co. 1
TONIGHT
Semifinals
6 p.m. - Franklin Co. (14-6)
vs. Woodford Co. (14-1-2)
8 p.m. - Western Hills (7-11-1) vs. Anderson Co. (11-3-4)
THURSDAY
Championship
8 p.m. - Semifinal winners
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