The William Byrd boys saved their best soccer for the best time as they won three
region games in seven days to qualify for the Virginia High School League Class 3
tournament. Byrd will play at either Magna Vista or Christiansburg Friday for the Region
3D championship, and that result will determine where they open state play next week.
The Terriers came into the region tournament as the number seven seed among
10, needing a win over 10th seeded Bassett to reach the quarterfinal round. They hosted
the Bengals last Wednesday and took a 4-1 win on Highfill Field in Vinton.
“We opened the season with Bassett so we were familiar with them, but the
concern was possible changes through the season as well as the fact it is the region and
you need to expect the unexpected,” said Byrd coach Russell Dishman.
Byrd controlled the match from the start. Just five minutes into the match Sergio
Leon opened the scoring off a cross from Ben Guertin. Then, in the 23rd minute, Cole
Kovacevic was able to take the ball down the left side and play a ball across the face of
goal for Shaun Gower to finish, putting Byrd up 2-0. Bassett had a one-on-one with the
keeper shortly thereafter but Bricen Lancaster made a big block save to stone the attempt.
“That moment pretty much put the momentum in our favor for the rest of the
night,” said Dishman.
Kovacevic scored to put Byrd up 3-0 at the half and Ian Sigmon combined with
Tyson Brady on a free kick to put the Terriers up 4-0 in the second half. Bassett was able
to score in the final minute off a free kick to ruin the shutout, but that was of little
concern as the Terriers moved to a Saturday game against second seeded Abingdon on
the road.
Coming in as big underdogs, the Terriers took a bite out of the Falcons when they
scored just nine minutes into the game. Ben Guertin crossed the ball to Sean Minnix on
the back post and Byrd had the early lead, setting the tone for the game.
In the 30th minute, Kovacevic served a corner kick in for Sigmon to finish, and
just three minutes later Guertin took a ball to the left corner and played it back to
Kovacevic who nailed a left footed strike to put Byrd up 3-0. Leon was able to score off
an unassisted run and the last goal came from Sergio off a cross from Kovecevic as the
Terriers shut out a stunned Abingdon team, 5-0.
That win put the Terriers in Tuesday’s Region 3D semifinal at Northside, with a
berth in the state tournament on the line. Byrd had split with the Blue Ridge District rival
Vikings during the season, a 3-2 win and a 2-1 loss, so fans were expecting a close game.
They weren’t disappointed. As they had in the other two region games, the
Terriers drew first blood. Just seven minutes in the Terriers had a free kick that Sigmon
played short to Daniel Britts. Daniel took a couple touches forward then played a 40 yard
ball on frame that went over the keeper to give Byrd a 1-0 lead, and that was the only
score of the game in a 1-0 Terrier win.
“It was back and forth and we had three balls go across their goal but could not
finish,” said Dishman. “We did well to prevent their build up in the middle and we were
able to create in the width.”
With about 11 minutes to go Northside had a big chance with a shot that
Lancaster was able to push away with his right hand before it made it in the top corner.
That was the Vikings last real chance as Byrd won by shutout for the second game in a
row. In the three region games the Terriers outscored their opponents 10-1.
“The boys were excited to get the tough win, make the region final and qualify for
the state playoff,” said Dishman. “Even though we are the seven seed, this has been the
expectation all season. We had the tough run after spring break where we lost six matches
by a single goal each. The guys stayed focused and were able to keep composed and put
it together as we hit the play off.”
Byrd is now 10-8-3. Magna Vista and Christiansburg were scheduled to play in
the other region semifinal on Wednesday and the survivor will host Byrd Friday. The
region champion will get a first round home game in next week’s state tournament and
the runner-up will go on the road to the Region 4C champion.
