Jeff Boys Soccer In Regional Final

October 14, 2010

Lafayette Jefferson High School

Jeff overpowers Western in regional semifinals

By CLYDE HUGHES • For the Journal & Courier • October 14, 2010

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Lafayette Jeff's boys soccer team advanced to the regional finals for the second consecutive year by defeating Western 5-1 in Friday's semifinals at Salisbury Athletic Complex.

The Bronchos will take on West Lafayette in Saturday's championship match.

Jeff's offensive pressure kept Western on its heels most of the game, and the Panthers couldn't sustain an offensive possession until late in the second half when the game was virtually decided.

The Bronchos' offensive stars all season, Maurice Peitz, Ruben Clemente and Anthony Lee, all scored goals in a one-sided match.

"Like last year, we seemed to peak right at this time of the year," Jeff coach Tim Hollendonner said. "If this is the time we play our best, I won't complain. There are some things we still need to work on, but this was one of our best defensive efforts of the year."

With Western (13-5) struggling to get as much as a shot on goal against the Bronchos' defense, each Jeff goal weighed heavy on the Panthers.

Peitz, standing just inside the goalie box, broke the ice when he headed a Clemente corner kick past Western goalie Drew Brantley at the 25:10 mark to give Jeff a 1-0 lead.

"I talked to Ruben and told him where I would be in the box, and it was a perfect cross and I jumped up and headed it," Peitz said. "It's my first regional game and it's awesome. I hope on Saturday we win the second game."

Clemente then drilled a shot from 30 yards out that sailed over Brantley's head into the back of the net with 15:14 left to increase the Broncho lead to 2-0. The booming shot seemed to take a lot of wind out of Western.

"Both of their goals were good quality shots," said Western coach Mike Roe. "Those really set us on our heels and momentum's a killer. That set them up and we knew we had to put some big pressure on them or they were going to keep going."

Peitz scored his second goal of the game by drilling a penalty kick in the right corner of the net at the 6:03 mark to give the Bronchos a 3-0 lead at halftime.

Jeff's fourth goal with 20:00 left in the second half was an example of its constant offensive pressure. Lee got a clear shot off past Brantley off of Freddie Cruz's assist. The Broncho offense hovered around the Western penalty box, keeping the ball in play until an opening was created.
"We were really motivated and it was an exciting game," Peitz said. "I think it was our best game of the season."

Clemente added a goal on a penalty kick at the 10:26 mark after Alex Baker was fouled in the penalty box while driving toward the Western goal.

By the time Western's Jared Householder scored from about 25 yards out on a direct free kick from the left side of the field, it wasn't enough.

Jeff beat Western in the regional finals last year. Brantley said the first two goals took the Panthers out of their game plan.

"This was very disappointing to lose to them again on this stage," Brantley said. "Five to one is pretty brutal. We had a couple of unlucky breaks but that's the way it goes."

Roe said Peitz's ability to handle the ball and control the middle of the field caused the Panthers problems all game long.

"I don't know where they got that kid from, but he was pretty solid," Roe said of Peitz, a German exchange student. "I think we just lost our midfield tonight. That was a biggest stumbling block. He definitely helped them out."