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Matt Fitzsimmons couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present.
Western Wayne’s boys soccer coach turned 35 Thursday...and his team helped him celebrate in the best way imaginable: with a dominating performance in the District Two play-offs.
Lake Lehman came calling for a Class AA quarterfinal contest, but the Knights probably wish they’d stayed at home on this particular night.
The Wildcats dominated their guests right from start, using a devastating mixture of aggressive offense and suffocating defense en route to a 2-0 win.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Coach Fitzsimmons told TWI Sports just moments after receiving an ice-cold Gatorade bath. “I’m very happy with how well we played tonight. Lake Lehman is a good team and for us to shut them out like this is pretty awesome.”
With the win, Western Wayne officially closed out its first season in a newly-remodeled stadium. The ‘Cats didn’t lose once this fall on the turf, going 7-0.
Next up for Coach Fitzsimmons’ lads is a showdown with Coughlin. The Crusaders are the #1 seed in this tournament and coming off an impressive win over Pittston Area.
That contest is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start Tuesday.
Stay tuned to TWI Sports for continuing coverage of Western Wayne’s D-2 title quest.
Front & Center
Andrew Green provided the ‘Cats will all the offense they’d need against Lake Lehman.
A versatile player who starred on the back line last year, Green moved to offense midway through this season and hasn’t missed a beat.
On Thursday night, Andrew broke the scoring ice with an electrifying goal early in the first half. Green unleashed a rocket with his left foot from just outside 30 yards.
The ball rocketed high over the defense and just above the outstretched hands of Knights’ keeper John Butchko.
The goal came at the 12:43 mark and gave Western Wayne a 1-0 lead...one the ‘Cats would never relinquish.
“Andrew is a complete player,” said Coach Fitzsimmons. “He has speed, power and finesse. The best thing about Andrew, though, is that he gives us 100% all the time.”
While Green provided the offensive punch, Evan Decker and CJ Bayly were busy directing a stifling Wildcat defense.
Decker is a multi-sport star who also excels on the wrestling mat and golf course. Despite a serious height disadvantage in Thursday’s game, Evan drove Knight ballhandlers crazy from opening whistle to final horn.
Matt Fitzsimmons couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present.
Western Wayne’s boys soccer coach turned 35 Thursday...and his team helped him celebrate in the best way imaginable: with a dominating performance in the District Two play-offs.
Lake Lehman came calling for a Class AA quarterfinal contest, but the Knights probably wish they’d stayed at home on this particular night.
The Wildcats dominated their guests right from start, using a devastating mixture of aggressive offense and suffocating defense en route to a 2-0 win.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Coach Fitzsimmons told TWI Sports just moments after receiving an ice-cold Gatorade bath. “I’m very happy with how well we played tonight. Lake Lehman is a good team and for us to shut them out like this is pretty awesome.”
With the win, Western Wayne officially closed out its first season in a newly-remodeled stadium. The ‘Cats didn’t lose once this fall on the turf, going 7-0.
Next up for Coach Fitzsimmons’ lads is a showdown with Coughlin. The Crusaders are the #1 seed in this tournament and coming off an impressive win over Pittston Area.
That contest is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start Tuesday.
Stay tuned to TWI Sports for continuing coverage of Western Wayne’s D-2 title quest.
Front & Center
Andrew Green provided the ‘Cats will all the offense they’d need against Lake Lehman.
A versatile player who starred on the back line last year, Green moved to offense midway through this season and hasn’t missed a beat.
On Thursday night, Andrew broke the scoring ice with an electrifying goal early in the first half. Green unleashed a rocket with his left foot from just outside 30 yards.
The ball rocketed high over the defense and just above the outstretched hands of Knights’ keeper John Butchko.
The goal came at the 12:43 mark and gave Western Wayne a 1-0 lead...one the ‘Cats would never relinquish.
“Andrew is a complete player,” said Coach Fitzsimmons. “He has speed, power and finesse. The best thing about Andrew, though, is that he gives us 100% all the time.”
While Green provided the offensive punch, Evan Decker and CJ Bayly were busy directing a stifling Wildcat defense.
Decker is a multi-sport star who also excels on the wrestling mat and golf course. Despite a serious height disadvantage in Thursday’s game, Evan drove Knight ballhandlers crazy from opening whistle to final horn.
“We have to share Evan with the golf team and we really miss him when he’s not here,” said Coach Fitzsimmons. “He makes a huge difference out there. He’s tenacious on defense.”
Bayly turned in yet another stellar performance as Western Wayne’s keeper. CJ was tested by a high-octane Lake Lehman offense on several occasions, but he came up huge each time.
Bayly stopped every shot he faced in this one en route to a 2-0 shutout.
“CJ’s at his best when he’s aggressive,” Coach Fitzsimmons said. “He was really on his game tonight and we needed it.”
Over & Out
Danny Fernandez dominated play in the midfield, as has become expected in Varden.
A 3-time Lackawanna League All-Star, Fernandez assisted on both Green’s goals, the second of which came shortly after intermission.
This one was just as impressive as the first. It came from 25 yards away...a high, arcing shot that once again eluded a diving Butchko.
“That was huge,” said Coach Fitzsimmons. “We were being a little bit tentative early in the second half, so getting that goal helped me to breathe a whole lot easier.”
Scoring Summary...
WW (12-2-0) 1 1 - 2
LL (13-3-1) 0 0 - 0
WW: Green (Fernandez), 12:43
WW: Green (Fernandez), 45:10
Saves: Bayly (WW), 5; Butchko (LL) 17.
