by Chris Naquin
DigitalSports Richmond
The Thomas Dale Knights are looking to win their third state title in four years and seem to be heading in the right direction as they remain unbeaten.
Thomas Dale defeated Matoaca 3-1 in Thursday night’s game improving their record to 4-0 this season.
The Knights are led by their two outstanding midfielders, JMU-bound senior captain Patrick Innes and Virginia-bound junior captain Will Bates, who dominated the center of the park against Matoaca.
The tandem united on the Knights first goal as Innes clipped a ball over Matoaca’s back line of defense to a running Bates who touched it past the keeper to put Thomas Dale up 1-0.
The Knights were looking for their second goal of the evening as they continued to pressure Matoaca with a series of dangerous shots and crosses but could not find the back of the net.
Later in the first half, Matoaca would answer back off of a counter attack in which senior defender Warrick Thacker hit a looping shot from distance over the head of Thomas Dale goal keeper Bill Groben and into the net to tie the game at 1-1.
The Knights dominated the game in the second half as they scored two more goals on the Warriors.
Thomas Dale outside midfielder Joseph Stover scored the go-ahead goal off of a beautiful curling shot from outside the 18-yard box and into the side netting putting the Knights up 2-1.
With just minutes left in the game, Thomas Dale forward Vito Lauretano would finish off the Warriors, when he was able to head the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.
Thomas Dale 1 2 – 3
Matoaca 1 0 – 1
TD: Bates, Stover, Lauretano
M: Thacker
Records: Thomas Dale (2-0 Central, 4-0); Matoaca (1-1, 1-2)
Processing your request, Please wait....
