Three games decided on last kick and boys’ soccer postseason is just getting started
Three boys’ high school soccer playoff games in Lexington have already been decided by the last kick of the contest. And more fun is on the way.
Thursday night, Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Jackson Gabbard launched a huge arching free kick from midfield — more than 40 yards out — over the Lafayette keeper’s outstretched hands and just under the crossbar to deliver the Bulldogs the 43rd District title as the final horn sounded on their 3-2 win.
On Wednesday, Will Major of Frederick Douglass got on the end of another long-range free kick off the foot of his keeper, Max Hasler, and put home the golden goal against Bryan Station in the sudden-death overtime of their 42nd District semifinal, another 3-2 scoreline.
The Broncos’ victory secured Douglass’s second straight appearance in the 11th Region Tournament, where eight of Central Kentucky’s best teams will vie for a region crown and corresponding berth in the state tourney.
“It was crazy! I just wanted to do all I could to put one on frame, hopefully get a deflection or something, and ended up flying it in myself,” said Dunbar’s Gabbard, a senior who had his career derailed by two ACL injuries to the same knee, but has been healthy this year and now has a moment he’ll never forget. “It meant a lot, after being out on a couple of ACL injuries my first three years of high school soccer. I’m just glad to be back to help my team.”
While Lafayette missed out on the district title, the Generals proved they will be a threat at the regional after knocking out No. 21 Tates Creek in a semifinals shootout on Tuesday. Lafayette keeper Ian Fultz both saved a penalty and struck the shot that sent them onward.
“We played as a team, we worked our butts off. We deserved that win,” Fultz said Tuesday night.
But perhaps no team exemplifies how difficult the 11th Region is more than Frederick Douglass. The gutty team in its fourth year with its fiery coach doesn’t have the pedigree of some of its rivals and doesn’t seem to garner much notice by the most looked at computer ratings, MaherRankings.com where the Broncos come in massively underrated at No. 40.
But knocking No. 22 Bryan Station out of the postseason in back-to-back years in two heart-stopping contests that needed extra time this season and penalty kicks last, have earned some respect. Douglass lost handily to the Defenders during each regular season and trailed 2-0 after the game’s first 20 minutes on Wednesday.
“When the real time shows up, we rise up to the occasion,” said Douglass Coach Omar Shalash, whose team held defending state champion Henry Clay scoreless for 71 minutes Thursday in their 1-0 loss in the 42nd District finals. The Broncos were the only team to get a result other than a loss against 43rd District champ Dunbar last week with a 3-3 tie. “These guys, we’ve played the hardest stretch out of a lot of teams in the entire state — every team the last seven games has been top 25. You get a taste of how that level is, and instead of us just feeling sorry for ourselves (when they got down 2-0), we remember … We’ve been here before. … It’s all about grit.”
Douglass’ keeper, Hasler, played a huge role in both years’ playoff wins against Station. His free kick goal sent last year’s game to overtime.
“When we came back (Wednesday night), it was one of the brightest things I’ve seen from my team,” Hasler said. “It’s just pure heart and hard work. We might be scrappy, but we know how to finish.”
Of course, defending 11th Region and state champion Henry Clay will have a say. The Blue Devils have more postseason wins than any team in the state over the last two years.
Here’s a closer look at the 11th Region field listed in order of their latest rating on MaherRankings.com. The Maher Rankings computer formula rates teams based on a number of factors, including results, strength of schedule and historic data. Play begins Sunday. Next week’s semifinals and finals will be held at Frederick Douglass.
Henry Clay
Rank: 5
Record: 11-1-0
How they got here: 42nd District champion. Defeated Scott County 3-0 in the semifinals and Frederick Douglass 1-0 in the finals on a goal by Zakariah Shendera.
Notes: Henry Clay junior forward Markieus Hill leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and is tied for the lead in assists with five. The Blue Devils have four returning starters off last year’s state title team.
Quoted: “It’s been really fun for me,” said Shendera on being part of the team. “This is the first time for me to play for varsity. I work hard for this place, so it’s all good.”
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Rank: 7
Record: 11-0-1
How they got here: 43rd District champion. Defeated Lexington Christian 3-0 in the semifinals and beat Lafayette 3-2 in the finals on a free kick by Jackson Gabbard that sailed just under the crossbar and eluded the keeper from more than 40 yards out as time expired.
Notes: Even with a shortened season, Dunbar’s undefeated run is impressive. They have wins over No. 5 Henry Clay, No. 21 Tates Creek, No. 22 Bryan Station and No. 23 West Jessamine. The Bulldogs are led by junior Issac Cano’s 10 goals and senior Drew Doza’s nine, and each has four assists.
Quoted: “We’re getting better every day. We’re working every day. We’ve got great chemistry here,” Doza said. “We’re just working every day to go as far as we possibly can.”
Madison Central
Rank: 16
Record: 13-1-0
How they got here: 44th District runner-up. Defeated Berea 9-0 in the semifinals on goals from six different players led by Gavin O’Shea’s three scores.
Notes: Central’s upset loss in the 44th finals was foreshadowed by a tough overtime win against Madison Southern in the regular season. The Indians have defeated three other teams in the tournament, including 41st District champ Great Crossing, 3-0, on Oct. 3. O’Shea leads the team with 23 goals.
Lafayette
Rank: 26
Record: 6-7-1
How they got here: 43rd District runner-up. Defeated No. 21 Tates Creek in a penalty kick shootout after a 2-2 tie in regulation and overtime. Goals scored by Gabriel Gatsos and Musampa Bandamuna with the penalty kick clincher by Fultz.
Notes: Lafayette started 2020 with three straight losses and had a number of opponents cancel due to Fayette County’s past “red” level COVID-19 rate. After a 4-1 defeat to St. Xavier in the regular-season finale, it saved its best game for the 43rd semis. Gatsos leads the team with nine goals and three assists.
Quoted: “It’s amazing, senior year, going to regionals, it’s the best feeling in the world, right there,” Fultz said. “It’s not the season we expected. It’s the season we got, and we’ve made the most out of it.”
Madison Southern
Rank: 30
Record: 11-2-1
How they got here: 44th District champion. Defeated Model 4-0 in the semifinals and No. 16 Madison Central 1-0 in the finals on a first-half penalty kick goal scored by senior Pierce Meeks.
Notes: The Eagles’ third straight district title avenged a regular season overtime loss to the Indians. Thirteen different players have scored Madison Southern’s 45 goals, led by Meeks’ 10. The team also has 26 assists with Meeks and Ru Lemmer notching seven each.
Great Crossing
Rank: 38
Record: 7-2-1
How they got here: 41st District champion. Defeated Franklin County 4-1 in the semifinals and Frankfort 3-2 in the finals on goals by Austin Welch, Preston Welch and Aiden Bryan.
Notes: The Warhawks have won district titles in both years of their existence. The Welch brothers lead the team in scoring and assists with Preston’s eight goals and two dimes and Austin’s six goals and six assists.
Frederick Douglass
Rank: 40
Record: 7-6-3
How they got here: 42nd District runner-up. Defeated No. 22 Bryan Station in overtime on Will Major’s shot inside the box after a Max Hasler free kick from distance. Malec Hanieh and Luke Wiles also scored.
Notes: The Broncos return to regional play despite the loss of one of last season’s most dynamic players, senior Kingsley Nuro, to a preseason knee injury and two others this season. Chase Long leads nine different scorers with five goals. Hasler’s six shutouts rank in the top 11 in the state.
Quoted: “I really hope that Lexington understands now that Frederick Douglass is around. It’s not just our football team. There’s a really good soccer team ... and next week, we’re going to hopefully make some big noise,” Coach Shalash said.
Frankfort
Rank: 55
Record: 11-3-0
How they got here: 41st District runner-up. Defeated Western Hills 2-1 in the semifinals on goals by Ethan Vermillion and Tyron Reynolds.
Notes: This is the Panthers’ second straight regional appearance and third in the last four years. Vermillion, a junior, leads the team in goals with 16 and sophomore Colton Cracraft leads them in assists with seven. Sixteen different players have contributed to Frankfort’s 50 goals on the season.
11th Region Tournament
Sunday’s quarterfinals
Frankfort at Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1 p.m.
Frederick Douglass at Madison Southern, 2 p.m.
Madison Central at Great Crossing, 3 p.m.
Lafayette at Henry Clay, 5 p.m.
Tuesday’s semifinals
At Frederick Douglass
Madison Central-Great Crossing winner vs. Lafayette at Henry Clay winner, 5:45 p.m.
Frederick Douglass-Madison Southern winner vs. Frankfort-Paul Laurence Dunbar winner, 8:15 p.m.
Thursday’s finals
At Frederick Douglass
Championship, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published October 16, 2020 at 3:09 PM.
