by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
In recent years, the Central District boys soccer champion was a foregone conclusion.
Thomas Dale was it.
But the Knights, though still talented, were not the runaway favorites coming into 2010 with Matoaca loaded and Meadowbrook surprisingly good.
Still, Dale is unbeaten in the district after one time through the schedule, stopping Matoaca 2-1 Tuesday night in overtime.
Sophomore forward Antonio Carrabotta struck before fans got well adjusted in their seats for the Knights.
“Antonio’s been great,” Dale coach Mark Fowler said. “He’s quick, strong and big. It was a clearance that he just ran under. He outpaced the back four, caught on the end of it and slotted it nicely past the keeper [Spencer Koch].
“He can do that all day.”
So can Matoaca’s Mason Page, who played forward for the first 20 minutes but was getting all of Dale’s defensive attention.
So Warriors coach Corey McConville moved the future Old Dominion player to midfield.
It worked, as Matoaca started earning solid scoring opportunities, and got fouled in the box in the 23rd minute.
Page beat Dale keeper Bill Groben to the top right for a 1-1 tie that lasted through regulation because of great saves by both keepers.
But a few minutes into the first 5-minute OT period, Dan Lauretano put in a nice cross that Matoaca’s Thomas Hartka booted pass his own keeper, trying to beat Louden Phillips to the spot.
The Knights held on from there to move to 7-0 in district play, 8-1 overall. Matoaca dropped to 5-2, 6-3.
“I was just looking to play a dangerous cross so we can get a head in,” Lauretano, a sophomore, said. “I got lucky with it.”
Nothing is lucky about Dale’s Central District run.
Matoaca 1 0 0 0 – 1
Thomas Dale 1 0 1 0 – 2
M: Page
TD: Carrabotta, own goal
Saves: Koch (M) 6; Groben (TD) 4
Records: Matoaca (5-2 Central, 6-3); Thomas Dale (7-0, 8-1)
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