EHS records third consecutive shutout taking district win over Vikings

Published 2:32 am Wednesday, April 6, 2022

On Tuesday evening the Elizabethton Cyclones recorded their third consecutive shutout, blanking Tennessee High on just four shots on goal.

Senior Andrew Ferguson scored the Cyclones lone goal in the 23^rd minute of play with assists from Clay Hopland and Eli Williams.

“Clay had the ball in the back and we work on transition,” Ferguson said. “He played it to me and I played it off to Eli and he put a through ball to me and I just busted through and ripped it. The defense was pretty slow once I got through. It’s a big win, not a huge one but we needed it.”

The play developed quickly after Hopland took possession at midfield and Ferguson made a powerful run as the ball came over the top to where Ferguson took possession and split two Vikings defenders at the 15-yard line as he steamed toward the penalty area and he blasted his shot past THS goalkeeper Eli Knowles.

The Cyclones (3-0-2 overall, 1-0 district) held a 4-2 shots on goal lead at the half and a one-goal advantage.

In the second half EHS managed to get six set pieces on corner kicks but none were of the dangerous variety. The Cyclones had two other shots on goal in the second half as well but Knowles made the stops.

“That’s three shutouts in a row so that’s nice,” Cyclones head coach Bill McClay said. “We had given up four goals in two previous games. We didn’t allow them a whole lot of shots but we got uneven in the last five minutes or so. I think that’s the result of spring break. If the guys want to play fast I say go ahead and break, but when we have the lead in the closing minutes we need to slow it down. We’re winning and we’re pushing the pace.”

EHS got great play from its backline who did a nice job of turning away any dangerous situations and kept goalkeeper Mason Williams sightlines clear. Williams faced just four shots but he handled each one with little trouble.

Penalties we’re a bit of a problem for EHS as they gave up a pair of potentially dangerous free-kicks and collected two yellow cards – one in each half.

Sophomore Tyler Jenkins got one in the 24^th minute and junior Eli Williams was carded in the 78^th minute.

The Cyclones travel to Bluff City next Tuesday for a district match with Sullivan East.