Lancers top Alleghany in region quarterfinals; on to Turner Ashby

By Laura Clark
Media General News Service
Published: May 28, 2008

The Lancers’ aggressiveness in the box finally paid off with two goals against Alleghany in the Region III quarterfinals at home on May 26.

In the 51st minute, Lancer Ryan Pigg crossed the ball into the box, where David Kreuziger connected. Keeper Andy Shepard blocked the shot, but Kreuziger collided with Shepard on the follow through. Ellis Turner found the loose ball and finished while Shepard was trying to get up.

This first goal helped ease some of the frustration from a scoreless first half, said Turner.

“He’s one of the better keepers we’ve played,” Turner said. “I had a hard time. He’d always come out, and I could do anything (on breakaways).”

Turner said during halftime the Lancers realized they needed to settle down and play their game.

“Their quality of play was all right, but we knew ours was way better,” he said. “We just needed to get it instilled in our minds that we could win, and once we did we started getting goals.”

The second goal came in the 70th minute, when Drew Carter finished a Turner shot that Shepard got a hand on, but couldn’t grab. Instead of attacking with through balls as in the first half, the Lancers worked the ball up through the middle or out on the wings. Jon Ascencio paired with Pigg in the center.

“The ball was in the air a lot,” head coach Tom McBride said. “Pigg’s about 6”4’; Jon’s about 5”7’. So it gives us a little more height advantage. We’re pretty strong in the middle, then when we get it out to the wings they (Kreuziger, Marcos Ascencio and Matt Payne) can beat almost anybody.”

The Lancer defense also calmed down in the second half, and McBride said the defense had been working on backing each other up, and building passes from the back, not just trying to send it. Keeper Andrew Bray had five saves.

Amherst traveled to Turner Ashby High School for the Region III semifinals on May 27. Results were unavailable at press time.