Hornet boys rally for title

By: Staff | Orange County Review
Published: May 28, 2009

Heading into the last week of the season, things didn't look too good for the Orange County High School varsity boys soccer team. They had only won three district matches and had lost to every team in the Jefferson District.
But then they beat Western. Then William Monroe in the first round of the Jefferson District Tournament. Then Louisa and finally, Charlottesville 1-0 Thursday to win the Jefferson District Tournament title.
"I said all season that Charlottesville was the best team we played in terms of talent and the level of soccer they play," OCHS varsity coach Dwane Pugh said. "The fact we were playing them in the finals didn't surprise us."
It may have surprised the Black Knights who watched the Hornets finish next to last during the district's regular season.
But something started to click with the Hornets as the regular season wound down and Orange rode the momentum of their win over Western into three more wins and a tournament title.
"The inexperience of our defense hurt us early in the season," Pugh said. "We'd done a decent job of scoring goals, but were making mistakes that allowed other teams to score on us. We could control major parts of the game, but couldn't win. It was frustrating."
But the Hornets kept at it, worked on their weaknesses and started to come around. Pugh also credits a coaching move (to mark key opposing players) that helped the defense turn the corner and do a better job shutting down the opposition.
Clearly, the Hornets shut down the Black Knights Thursday in a physically demanding district tournament final.
The game's only goal was scored immediately after the start of the second half. Senior Ethan Biggs played the ball down the left side of the field on a long dribble then passed the ball to the center where center midfielder Matt Cronin received it. Cronin then played it through from the middle to senior striker Antonio Flores who buried it in the back of the net.
The win improved the Hornets' record to 9-8-1 and set up Monday's game with Potomac Falls.
Unfortunately, the Hornets couldn’t keep their late season momentum and lost 7-0 in the Region II quarterfinals.

Hornet boys rally for title

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