Sometimes in postseason games, teams can get caught looking ahead to future matches.

And, according to Elizabethton head coach Bill McClay, that might have been the case for the Cyclones as they faced Sullivan Central in the opening game of District 1-AA soccer tournament at Citizens Bank Stadium.

The Cyclones’ focus, however, was quickly snapped back to the tasks at hand as the Cougars tied Monday’s game up at 1-1 early. Elizabethton didn’t let that knot stay tied long as the Cyclones dispatched Central, 5-1.

“The effort finally got there,” said McClay. “We had lost our enthusiasm. They just expected it to happen, looking ahead to the next day. But one thing I am happy about is that, when it got to 1-1, we immediately made it 2-1 and kept the pressure up.”

The match’s opening goal came from the foot of Cyclones Teagan Bernshausen at the 2:30 mark. Still, in the first half, the Cougars were able to tie the game up at 1-1, before Elizabethton’s Drew Reagan knocked one in to push EHS up 2-1 at the 21:40 tick.

Early in the second half, Cyclones Jaxton Holly made back-to-back goals to give EHS a 4-1 edge before Reagan found the back of the net for the second time of the night. Reagan’s goal would push EHS on out, 5-1.

The contests final score came from Elizabethon’s Drew Hinkle, who, from midfield, drove in close to goal before outplaying Central’s goalie with a toe shot that found the left side of the net.

Elizabethton dominated play all night as the Cyclones took a whopping 28 shots to Central’s three.

Elizabethton will face Three Rivers Conference rival Sullivan South Tuesday at the Rebels home for the second round of the tournament. When the two teams played in the regular season, the Rebels inched out a 1-0 win.