Warriors strike early, oust Blazers

October 29, 2008|By CURT HORNBECKER / Staff Correspondent

BOONSBORO -- After just eight minutes, Boonsboro boys soccer coach Brad Delauter felt much more relaxed. By halftime, he was probably grinning ear-to-ear.

A pair of first-half goals allowed the Warriors to coast to a 4-1 victory over Clear Spring in the Maryland Class 1A West quarterfinals Tuesday.

"We wanted to get up on them as soon as possible," Delauter said. "When you come out and get two goals on a team, especially in a (playoff) game, you're in a position you want to be in. The psychological difference is probably one of the most important things in any sport."

Shane Lowery got things started for the Warriors when he dribbled past a defender and pushed the ball into the left side of the net.

Boonsboro made it 2-0 in the 39th minute when Paul Jaya booted a deflected shot into a wide-open goal.

Meanwhile, the Blazers (6-9-1) could get nothing going offensively against the faster, stronger Boonsboro defense, getting just one shot on goal -- versus 11 for Boonsboro -- through the first 40 minutes, and finishing the game with just two shots on goal.

"(Boonsboro) really dominated tonight," said Clear Spring coach Mark Myers. "We didn't bring our "A" game. They beat us to every loose ball. We didn't play the way we're capable of playing."

The Warriors continued to apply the pressure in the second half, as Kenny Kopp scored on a David Engle assist in the 49th minute, and Jaya made it 4-0 on a Micaiah Jessie assist just eight minutes later.

Clear Spring (12-4) averted the shutout in the 63rd minute when senior Elliott Reid found the net on a direct kick from 30 yards out.

"We had a good surge in the last 10 minutes," said Myers, "after we got that direct kick. We showed more of the way we're capable of playing."

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