by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
Call Mason Page Lightning.
He struck twice in 45 seconds to catapult Matoaca to a 5-1 boys soccer victory over Meadowbrook in the Central District semifinals Tuesday.
“They definitely were in control of the game at the beginning of the game,” Warriors coach Corey McConville said. “Once we got those two goals we were able to get them on their heels.
“But again, it was a battle in the second half.”
Meadowbrook coach Justin Beck, out of ideas to halt Page, flat out double-teamed the ODU-bound forward in the second half.
It stopped Matoaca’s momentum until Nathan Calhoun found Ryan Clapman on a free kick for a 3-0 lead halfway through the second half.
“I just got that ball over the top and knew I was going to volley it over the keeper,” Clapman said.
Meadowbrook, ever resilient, converted a corner kick with 12 minutes to go.
Noe’ Quintanilla wasn’t stood up in the box by Matoaca, and beat Spencer Koch as the Monarchs’ crowd had life.
But Page got back at it in the open field.
He blasted a shot at MBK keeper Diego Velasco, who got one of his six saves, but it bounced out to Brandon Parker, who smartly followed Page’s shot.
Page wouldn’t miss with four minutes left. The ball seemed to be heading out of bounds behind the net, but Page saved it and maneuvered through three Monarchs to deposit his third goal.
“All I can say is, look out at regionals,” Beck said of Page. “This guy is a phenomenal player. He really can decide what’s going to happen in the game in any moment.
“If he’s up and he’s playing at the top of his game, he’s going to be one of the toughest people to mark.”
Meadowbrook 0 1 – 1
Matoaca 2 3 – 5
MBK: Quintanilla
Mat: Page 3, Clapman, Parker
Saves: Velasco (MBK) 6; Koch (Mat) 3
Records: Meadowbrook (12-5); Matoaca (13-4)
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