Home cooking works for Blazers

September 04, 2010|By WILL ROBINSON/Staff Correspondent

CLEAR SPRING -- Clear Spring's girls soccer team used its home-field advantage to the fullest in the opening round of the Washington County Public Schools Soccer Tournament on Friday.

The Blazers rolled past Hancock 7-0, with all of the scoring coming in the first half.

In other first-round games, Boonsboro shut out South Hagerstown 9-0 and Williamsport edged Smithsburg 3-1.

The tournament continues today at North Hagerstown's Mike Callas Stadium. Hancock will face Smithsburg for fifth place at 4 p.m. Clear Spring plays Boonsboro at 6 in one semifinal, before Williamsport faces North Hagerstown at 8 in the other semifinal. The Hubs had a first-round bye as defending champions.

* Jaime Humbertson and Megan Crowl led Clear Spring with two goals each, while Alyssa Brandt added a goal and two assists.

The Blazers scored early and often, taking a 2-0 lead by the seventh minute and stretching it to 4-0 on Humbertson's back-to-back goals in the 16th and 25th minutes.

"Both of the goals were off of good crosses," said Humbertson. "I just stepped up and put them in."

Clear Spring coach Brian Albert was pleased with his team's effort, but he knows who is waiting for them in the semifinals.

"I think we played this game very well, but Boonsboro's going to be the test tomorrow," said Albert.

* Boonsboro had an equally impressive first-round victory in coach Chris Lantz's debut.

Ashlyn Hawbaker was the star of the show, scoring five goals -- three unassisted. Jen Sherdel won best supporting role honors with two goals and one assist, while Amber Smith netted two goals.

After Sherdel opened the scoring in the second minute, Hawbaker slashed through the Rebels' defense like a hot knife through butter, scoring four straight goals.

"This is my comeback year," said Hawbaker. "I only played about half the season last year, and right now, I want it more than anything."

* Amber Shumaker, last year's top scorer for Williamsport, led the way again with two goals. Victoria Key added the third.

Rachel Poffenberger scored Smithsburg's only goal on an assist by Allison Portoghese.

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