| YOUR STARTING POINT FOR HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER IN VIRGINIA'S GROUP AAA EASTERN REGION |
| 2010 VHSL Group AAA BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATES - photos by Marc Velbis Battlefield (17-3-2) vs. Cox (24-0-0) Follow live updates all afternoon from Westfield HS! Doug Ripley - June 12, 2010 PREGAME - Cox attempts to go for Virginia soccer lore today in Chantilly in many ways. A win today would mark the most wins ever recorded by a VHSL institution in any division for boys soccer. Cox, with the win Friday, tied the record twice set by Thomas Dale in the midst of their titanic 67-match winning streak in the middle of the last decade. It would also signify the eighth time a school has won back-to-back Group AAA state titles (Lake Braddock 1982-83, 1988-89; Kempsville 1991-92; CD Hylton 1993-94, 1998-99; West Springfield 2001-02; Thomas Dale 2005-06). No school has ever won the title three consecutive seasons in AAA. - The Falcons tied a school record for goals scored in a season (94) with their four tallies vs. Stone Bridge Friday. They already hold new team record for consecutive wins (30), shutouts in a season which they also increased vs. the Bulldogs (15) and, with a shutout today, would set a team record for goals against average and tie a team record for lowest total goals allowed (9 GA through 24 tilts). - Battlefield High School, the Northwest Region Champion, is competing in its first ever State Tournament since the school opened in 2004. The Bobcats are unbeaten in their last 11 matches, having advanced through the playoffs while surviving two penalty kick shootouts. Battlefield is led by Adam Clements (12 goals) and Troy Allaire (8 goals) in the middle of the pitch and Chris Hernandez (5 goals, 8 assists) on the wing. Jack Eaton is expected to get the start for Battlefield following a three save shutout yesterday against #2-ranked Deep Run (ESPN Rise). GAME NOTES (by minute) 2nd - Ryan Oakes' first long throw-in of the final near side to Hunter Byrnes, headed the ball far post for a Jack Eaton save. 6th - Battlefield attack shows its teeth for the first time as Troy Allaire plays a ball the width of the pitch to Chris Hernandez, spreading the Cox defense for a possible second cross. Falcons able to clear it wide. 8th - On Cox's end, Hunter Byrnes nearly dribbled his way through the Battlefield defense, the ball cleared poorly to Eric Bird who then was whistled for a foul while on the ball. On the quick start, Chris Hernandez fed Troy Allaire diagonally for his first shot, a Battlefield header saved by Mark Nankervis. 9th - GOAL COX: Chris Albiston with a left-footed rip from 23 yards, into the left upper-90. Cox 1-0 Battlefield 11th - Cox nearly scored again. Hunter Byrnes' right-sided corner headed over the bar from the 6' by Eric Bird. Goal kick. 13th - Battlefield with a right-sided breakaway by Adam Clements but Wesley Claffee and Neil Harrison drop back just in time to challenge. Clements shot from 14' blocked (sliding) by Harrison. Bobcats would eventually get a corner but failed to put up a shot as Brian Henken's headed ball moved parallel of the end-line. 17th - Hunter Byrnes corner deflected back to him for a second attempt for Cox. His service, intended for Bird, collected by Eaton. 20th - Drew Hartell with a juggling display 13 yards away, pivoting and shooting on frame for an Eaton save. Hartell, on the next possession, headed the ball in traffic high of the frame for a goal kick. 22nd, 23rd - The Falcons peppering the Bobcats in their latest set of runs but the score remains 1-0. 24th - GOAL COX: Drew Hartell, off a feed from the right side of the midfield, beat two defenders in the left portion of the box and drove a ball inside the near post past Eaton. Cox 2-0 Battlefield 28th - Paul Braunstein, off a left-side set of pings for Cox, fires from just inside the box. Saved by Eaton. Shots now 11-2 Cox (5-1 SOG). 31st - Plenty of ooh's and aah's are echoing around the facility as Cox continues its offensive assault on Battlefield. Braunstein with a 30th minute header off the top of the crossbar after a right side cross, missed to the right on the ensuing possession, and Bird with a top of the box strike with so much pace that Eaton had to bump it at chest level with his hands out in front of him. 38th - Even Dimitri Papazoglou getting in the offensive mix with a nice give and go with Eric Bird along the right side of the attacking third. His cross flew over Paul Braunstein on the header try. 39th - Ryan Oakes flicked a header just to the right of frame off a Chris Albiston set piece from midfield after Troy Allaire was booked for retaliation for Battlefield. 40th - Battlefield free kick deep in the left corner. Eric Rodriguez with a foot on the ball from 10 yards away but right to Ryan Oakes who cleared it wide. HALFTIME: Cox 2-0 Battlefield. STATS (BATT/COX): Shots 3/18, Saves 4/1, Fouls 4/6, Corners 1/3, Offsides 0/0 45th - First long throw for Oakes and the Falcons in the second half. Put it in great position for Zac Eckert but his shot missed high for a goal kick. 47th - Eckert booted in a right side cross but the goal called back (offside). 54th - GOAL BATTLEFIELD: Adam Clements, on a left side run, beat three Cox defenders and fired it inside the far post past Nankervis. Cox 2-1 Battlefield 59th - Bobcats have picked up some momentum here and Cox still is a bit stunned by the goal allowance. Battlefield with a left side run by Clements shielded out of play by Wes Claffee for a corner. 60th - Falcons control the Bobcat corner and had an Eric Bird counter up the middle but nice defensive play by Lemy Park to take Bird off the ball. 63rd - Cox with a series of set pieces from the left diverted wide by Battlefield who filled in the gaps well on defense. 64th - Cox defenders make a rare unforced error, allowing Nii Abbey to take it on the right corner of the 18', drop it back to Jeff Asamoah for a 21 yard blast that just cleared the crossbar. 66th - Ryan Oakes has near post header blocked wide for a Battlefield counter off a Byrnes corner. Wes Claffee with the timely tackle wide on Nii Abbey. 68th - Eric Bird tickles the outside of the right upper 90 with his curling right footer from the left corner of the 18' (enough direction for ya?) 69th - A very nifty shielding by Neil Harrison to end a Battlefield run up the left flank. Harrison, while holding off Brian Henken faked a clearance twice before letting it roll out of play. 74th - Battlefield with a pair of quick starts off of Ryan Oakes fouls in the midfield, but the Bobcats elect to miss shots wide from outside the 18' 76th - Best opportunity to tie for Battlefield as Troy Allaire beat Nankervis on the dribble and, with two Cox defenders on the line, plays a ball wide to an open Colin Laskodi who missed a sitter wide-right. 78th - Cox doing two things now: sending extra men back and trying to put away the match with an Eric Bird run. FINAL - Cox 2-1 Battlefield... Falcons win state for a second straight year, dodging a courageous rally by the Bobcats. More to come but here's the BOX SCORE GIRLS FINAL: Stone Bridge 4-0 Cosby (FT) |
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