2A Boys Soccer Semifinal - R E Lee - Staunton (7) Giles (1) - FINAL
- Thread starter pizzzzza
- Start date
Marcos Sasia scores for
@LeeHighMedia
soccer at 30:16 mark of 1st half. Lee leads Giles 1-0 in state semifinals
@LeeHighMedia
soccer at 30:16 mark of 1st half. Lee leads Giles 1-0 in state semifinals
Maybe not the best weather for soccer, but they're playing anyway here in Radford.
Giles and Robert E Lee just started the second half of the first VHSL Class 2 semifinal, and Martinsville will take on George Mason immediately after.
(Bulletin Sports)
Giles and Robert E Lee just started the second half of the first VHSL Class 2 semifinal, and Martinsville will take on George Mason immediately after.
(Bulletin Sports)
(Article on game)
Lee High soccer advances to state championship game
Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader
Lee High's Kyle Stenzel battles for the ball in front of the goal during Friday's VHSL Class 2 boys soccer state semifinal win over Giles.(Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
RADFORD - Kyle Stenzel scored a hat trick and Marcos Sasia added two more goals as Robert E. Lee boys soccer routed Giles 7-1 Friday morning in the Virginia High School League Class 2 boys soccer state semifinals.
Lee will play for the state championship Saturday morning against the winner of George Mason and Martinsville.
Although rain fell before Friday's match at Radford University's Cupp Stadium, it had mostly stopped by the time the two teams took the field for the 9 a.m. start.
Lee High went up 2-0 on goals by Sasia and Stenzel before Giles cut the lead in half with 7:23 left in the first half. Lee led 2-1 at halftime despite controlling most of the action throughout the opening half.
"I think us being in the state semifinals really got to us," Sasia said of the slim first-half advantage. "We just needed to calm down and embrace the moment and do what we do."
Lee High played in the state semifinals a year ago, entering the game unbeaten, but leaving a step shy of the title match after a loss to George Mason. Mason beat Giles 3-0 for the state championship in 2018.
Lee's goal all season has been to return to the state tournament, but get a championship this time around. There are 11 seniors on the Lee roster.
"That gave us a lot of motivation," Stenzel said of the loss to Mason last year. "We thought we should have won that game, but we just didn't finish our chances and they were able to. So we're hoping to change that around this year."
Lee lost to Mason 1-0 in the Region 2B championship this year.
Lee was in complete control in the second half Friday, scoring five times for the easy win. Stenzel added two more goals, Sasia had another, and Quinn Anderson and Francesco Nunez both scored.
"We just talked about finishing, honestly" Sasia said of the team's focus in the second half. "We attacked, attacked and started knocking on the door. Eventually we got there in the second half."
Stenzel said the pressure Lee put on Giles defense in the first half helped set up the impressive offensive display in the second.
"I think they got tired," said Stenzel, who will be playing soccer for Virginia Tech in the fall. "In the second half we were able to just knock it around and finish our chances more in the second half."
As parents and school administrators took photos of the team on the field after the game, the players were quick to point out they weren't ready to celebrate. The win was big, but there was one more left to get.
"We're super excited," Sasia said. "It's not over yet. We're going to go all out tomorrow, even more. We're going to focus up tonight, get a good night's rest and hopefully go out with everything tomorrow and come out victorious."
Marcos Stasia scored Lee High's first goal during Friday's VHSL Class 2 boys soccer state semifinal win over Giles.(Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
Lee High soccer advances to state championship game
Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader
Lee High's Kyle Stenzel battles for the ball in front of the goal during Friday's VHSL Class 2 boys soccer state semifinal win over Giles.(Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
RADFORD - Kyle Stenzel scored a hat trick and Marcos Sasia added two more goals as Robert E. Lee boys soccer routed Giles 7-1 Friday morning in the Virginia High School League Class 2 boys soccer state semifinals.
Lee will play for the state championship Saturday morning against the winner of George Mason and Martinsville.
Although rain fell before Friday's match at Radford University's Cupp Stadium, it had mostly stopped by the time the two teams took the field for the 9 a.m. start.
Lee High went up 2-0 on goals by Sasia and Stenzel before Giles cut the lead in half with 7:23 left in the first half. Lee led 2-1 at halftime despite controlling most of the action throughout the opening half.
"I think us being in the state semifinals really got to us," Sasia said of the slim first-half advantage. "We just needed to calm down and embrace the moment and do what we do."
Lee High played in the state semifinals a year ago, entering the game unbeaten, but leaving a step shy of the title match after a loss to George Mason. Mason beat Giles 3-0 for the state championship in 2018.
Lee's goal all season has been to return to the state tournament, but get a championship this time around. There are 11 seniors on the Lee roster.
"That gave us a lot of motivation," Stenzel said of the loss to Mason last year. "We thought we should have won that game, but we just didn't finish our chances and they were able to. So we're hoping to change that around this year."
Lee lost to Mason 1-0 in the Region 2B championship this year.
Lee was in complete control in the second half Friday, scoring five times for the easy win. Stenzel added two more goals, Sasia had another, and Quinn Anderson and Francesco Nunez both scored.
"We just talked about finishing, honestly" Sasia said of the team's focus in the second half. "We attacked, attacked and started knocking on the door. Eventually we got there in the second half."
Stenzel said the pressure Lee put on Giles defense in the first half helped set up the impressive offensive display in the second.
"I think they got tired," said Stenzel, who will be playing soccer for Virginia Tech in the fall. "In the second half we were able to just knock it around and finish our chances more in the second half."
As parents and school administrators took photos of the team on the field after the game, the players were quick to point out they weren't ready to celebrate. The win was big, but there was one more left to get.
"We're super excited," Sasia said. "It's not over yet. We're going to go all out tomorrow, even more. We're going to focus up tonight, get a good night's rest and hopefully go out with everything tomorrow and come out victorious."
Marcos Stasia scored Lee High's first goal during Friday's VHSL Class 2 boys soccer state semifinal win over Giles.(Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
It was a masterful performance by Lee. If they keep their heads about them and play patient, unselfish soccer, they will take the big one tomorrow. I was extremely impressed by those young men. As for Giles, this was the end of their run of great talents for a little bit. Honestly surprised they made it this far. Good for them. They got rocked 7-1 no doubt, but hey they earned the right to get rocked by a great squad.
Can't wait for tomorrow morning. Just hate I can't see the 1A games as well
Can't wait for tomorrow morning. Just hate I can't see the 1A games as well
I had a 'feeling' after Lee beat GM in the regional last season, then lost in the state semis - that these two would be on a collision course again this season.
But this time, the roles might be reversed - Lee lost in the regional this time, and wouldn't you know it....they meet in the state finals....seems only right.
But this time, the roles might be reversed - Lee lost in the regional this time, and wouldn't you know it....they meet in the state finals....seems only right.
