CSLA's Kieran Finch moves to the goal with Tyner in close pursuit.
photo by M.A. Locke
The CSLA Eagles boy's soccer team took care of business in their District 3-A semifinal match Tuesday night against the Tyner Academy Rams. CSLA had met the Rams previously this season which resulted in the Eagles taking a 2-0 win. This time Tyner hoped to have different results but couldn’t manage to find them. CSLA not only won but made a statement with a final score of 4-1.
The game was equally competitive in the first half. The first goal, coming from CSLA, took twenty minutes before lighting up the scoreboard. A build up play led to CSLA’s Oreen Yahya finding Micheal Kirschel in the box to score easily. This would be an eye opener for the Rams and force them to focus on attacking play.
Fifteen minutes after the first goal, Tyner would respond to CSLA and tie it up. A long ball played in to Adrian Vasquez would put him with just the keeper to beat, and he does so effortlessly. However, not even two minutes later, the Eagles would find the net again with a goal from Mohamad Alymany on the counter attack. This would finish the half and give CSLA a lot of the momentum going into the break.
In the second half CSLA looked comfortable with the ball. They held possession and passed around the midfield quickly. Tyner rarely had a chance to attack due to the lack of possession on their end. After about 11 minutes in, Kieran Finch finds his first goal of the game in a situation that would work wonders for the Eagles. A freekick taken by Ben Hopper played from deep placed perfect to Finch and hit first time in the goal. This goal would repeat itself exactly as before less than ten minutes later to give Finch his second goal and Hopper his second assist.
Tyner spent the rest of the half trying to create anything and everything they could. Several chances arose for the Rams, but none were successful. CSLA would hang on to their lead and win 4-1. CSLA’s head coach Wes Castle spoke about the emotions after their win and the team’s season getting to this point.
“It feels really good, especially for this young team,” Castle said. As I think I have said before, it is mostly freshman and one junior on the field, so it feels good. We went into halftime, and we talked about cleaning it up. Playing simple with simple soccer and possessing, just keeping possession. They had five guys that they kept back, so we had to possess the ball into our attacking third, their defensive third and go from there. I think our possession game has gotten better. we are able to take care and keep the ball. I think we talk a little more than we did, communication on the field is better.”
CSLA will go on to play McMinn Central at the end of this week. The day and time of that game are still being determined to schedule conflicts. McMinn beat Sweetwater in the semifinals 4-0 and looks to be dangerous. This will be a battle for CSLA who hope to maintain the one seed and play Chattanooga Prep next week.
Game Summary
Tyner Academy 1 0 -- 1
CSLA 2 2 -- 4
Goal Scorers:
Tyner Academy- Adrian Vasquez; CSLA- Kieran Finch 2, Michael Hirschel, Mohamad Alymany.
Assists:
CSLA- Ben Hopper 2, Kieran Finch, Oreen Yahya.
(Contact Alex McElyea at alexmcelyea26@gmail.com)