BOYS SOCCER: Quick score sinks Waynesboro

Some quick thinking by a pair of Harrisonburg players proved to be the difference in Friday’s Region III boys’ soccer championship as the Blue Streaks defeated homestanding Waynesboro 1-0.

Both teams advance to the Group AA tournament on Tuesday, but the win cements a home game for the Blue Streaks, while Waynesboro must hit the road to face the winner of Region IV, either Blacksburg or Hidden Valley.

After a Waynesboro foul, Harrisonburg midfielder Justin Syharath immediately restarted the free kick, finding teammate Adrian Zamora who converted the game’s only goal with just over 17 minutes left in what had been a very defensive contest.

“He [Syharath] played a perfect ball in front of me,” Zamora said. “He knows from years of playing together that when I look back at him, I want him to kick it quickly.”

“They capitalized on that play and we need to pay better attention at those times,” said Waynesboro head coach Bill Meicke, who is leading his team into the state tournament for the first time in school history.

The Blue Streaks controlled play and ball possession for most of the first half, but the Little Giants started counterattacking and gradually began making dangerous runs into the Harrisonburg defense.

Both goalkeepers came up with big saves on numerous occasions throughout the first half as the two former district rivals battled to a scoreless tie.

A hand ball gave Waynesboro a free kick on goal from 28 yards out, but Harrisonburg goalie Ty Armentrout turned the shot away.

Another Waynesboro free kick was headed into the crossbar near the end of the half, but the Blue Streaks cleared the ball out of danger.

Waynesboro goalkeeper Jose Cruz kept the Little Giants in the game with several key saves as Harrisonburg looked for the go-ahead goal in the second half.

After Zamora’s game-winning goal, the Little Giants continued to press the attack, trying to send the game into overtime.

“Our defense didn’t allow any free balls to go through,” said Harrisonburg head coach Ted Erickson.

“This is the fourth time we’ve reached the regional finals, but the first time we’ve won it.”

The Blue Streaks improved to 15-1-3 on the season, while Waynesboro fell to 12-6.

“It doesn’t bother us to go on the road,” Meicke said. “There’s no pressure on us. We’re going to ride this for all we can.”