Boys head to region semifinal

By Laura Clark

Published: May 28, 2008

To the Gov players and coaches, scoring eight goals while shutting out Buckingham in the region quarterfinals was progress, it wasn’t enough to dispel the uneasiness they showed leaving the field on May 26.

Nelson knew its next opponent (undetermined at the time - either Stonewall Jackson or George Mason) plays at a level unlike what they’ve faced all year. It was this realization that shook them out of a first-half slump.

“We didn’t come ready. We play down to the level of whoever we’re playing,” senior forward Luke Longanecker said. “We said, ‘We’ve got to be ready for Wednesday. If we play like that we’re going to lose.’ So we came together as a team and picked it up.”

The Govs scored four goals in the first half, but those goals were more the result of steady pounding in the direction of Buckingham’s goal than the four second-half goals, which drew on control and distribution from the back line up through the midfield and to the forwards.

Longanecker scored three goals; Koda Kerl scored two, as well as Lupe Zarate.

Brandon White added one goal.

Garth Phillips started in goal for Nelson, and will likely start in the May 28 regional semifinal. Caleb Saunders and Matt Vanison also played keeper. The three combined for nine saves against Buckingham.

Nelson was coming off a 2-1 loss to Altavista in the Dogwood District championship game on May 23. Head coach Pete Hauschner said the Altavista loss helped them wake up to taking teams seriously, though the need to get over it for the next game.

“When you think you’re not as good as you were last year, somebody’s going to come along and shoot you in the back at anytime, and you get a little skittish about that. And it was Altavista,” he said. “I think they were finally getting their chemistry together during the regular season, and they can’t seem to get beyond that final step of really being confident.”

Nelson will travel to George Mason High School on May 28 for the 7 p.m. Region B semifinal game.