Cyclones take shutout loss to Bucs
Published 11:50 pm Wednesday, March 24, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones Holston Howard (5) fires a corner kick toward the goal late in the first half.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton’s Ashton Vest (10) looks to pass the ball to Sean Smithdeal (7) as the Jr Bucs Viraj Brahmbhatt (7) defends on the play.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton’s Jacob Williams (11) and the Jr Bucs Braden Williams (8) battle for control of the ball along the sidelines in the first half.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones Skylar Jenkins (13) leaps over University High keeper Sam McGee (42) who has smothered a shot on goal mid-way through the first half.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones Sean Smithdeal (7) skies high for a header over University High’s Andrew Jarvis in the first half.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton’s Holston Howard (5) beats the Jr. Bucs Braden Williams (8) to a header to keep the ball in Cyclones territory early in the second half.
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BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
On Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Stadium, the Elizabethton Cyclones failed to take advantage of the many opportunities presented in a 2-nil loss to University High in boys soccer action.
The Cyclones (1-2 overall) had nine shots on goal and had eight corner kicks in the first half alone – nine of those in total – and yet failed to put even one ball behind Buccaneers goalkeeper Sam McGee.
“In the first half we were really sharp,” Cyclones head coach Bill McClay said. “On their first goal we stopped because clearly there was a handball, but they (referees) didn’t call it.
“My players said he was offside and he shot it and it went in. So there it was, one shot and were down a goal and we had the better of play. That’s the way this game is.”
University High got on the scoreboard in the 17th minute when Bracken Burns scored on a long shot from near the sideline that was well placed with a strong pace and staked the Bucs to a one-goal lead.
EHS had opportunities including almost slipping a goal in off a corner kick by Holston Howard that McGee went high to catch.
A second opportunity was spoiled by a sensational save by McGee who punched away a high shot by junior Clay Hopland. Hopland would later score a goal that was waved off on a questionable offside call that would have cut the lead to 2-1.
“We didn’t make the most of our opportunities,” McClay said. “We had some decent looks. They defended the corner kicks pretty well. In the second half, I don’t think we played the ball quick enough.
“Once we got to midfield with the ball they just backed everybody in. They would have nine guys playing back and we didn’t move the ball in early enough when they were up.”
In the 63rd minute, Burns struck again, this time off a nice crossing ball from Pate Anglin that gave him enough of a look to fire a low hard shot that beat EHS keeper Noah Lambert to his right.
Braced with a two-goal lead UH now went into a defensive mode that allowed the Cyclones to control the midfield, but not advance into a dangerous attacking position at the penalty area.
After Burns second goal, the Cyclones had another opportunity wasted when Howard had a free-kick from 27 yards out and his high pass into the box found Braden Holly whose header shot was caught by McGee who was outstanding in goal for UH.
UH was turned away from scoring a third goal when Lambert made an outstanding save on a blast from Braden Williams that he went low to the turf to corral and moments later EHS was turned away when Hopland’s goal was disallowed.
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University High 2-0
University High 1 1 – 2
Elizabethton 0 0 – 0
Scoring summary
First Half
UH – Burns (unassisted) 17:00
Second Half
UH – Burns (assist Anglin) 63:00
