Win sends Feet into state title clash

Webb's Josh Ferrell (10) goes toe-to-toe with King's Academy's Josimar Lawson in midair during their semifinal match. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Webb got a pair of goals from both Josh Ferrell and Zach Wagner in their 5-1 win over King's Academy in the Division II Class A state tournament semifinals Thursday at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.

The victory puts the Feet (16-3) in today's championship at noon. It will be their second straight trip to the finals. They lost 1-0 last year in quadruple overtime.

"The worrying of trying to play up to expectations, at this point, is gone," Webb coach Adrian Anderson said. "Now, we're playing for the state title. We're playing for the state title 'cause we want it. We feel like we could have won it last year."

Anderson said the experience that carries over from 2008 plays a vital role this time around.

"They all know what to expect in the game," said Anderson, who returns 10 starters from last season's 105-minute match. "Last year, when we wanted this game at the end, I'm sitting there talking to them and their eyes are as big as eggs and saucers. They're looking at me like, 'We're in the state championship, we're in the state championship.'

"Now, it feels a lot better because everybody seems more comfortable with it, not relaxed like we know we're going to win or anything, but just more comfortable with the situation and understanding what we're going to face."

Webb defender Adam Brooks (6) boots a ball from harm's way as King's Academy's Jordan Smith looks on. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Webb faces University School of Nashville (10-6-2), who got a goal from Kareem Gordon in the 10th minute to defeat defending champion St. George's (12-3-2).

The Feet won their regular-season game with USN 4-2 before taking them down again 1-0 in the East/Middle Region tournament final. They have some slight adjustments to make before getting underway today.

"We've got to improve on the sharpness of our passes. We're giving possession away a little bit too much in the passes throughout the midfield," Anderson said.

Danny Hwang got the Bell Buckle boys on top first versus King's Academy (15-3-2) with a goal just 4:30 in off an assist from Rex Lee.

Jeff Eichinger scored for the Lions in the 12th minute to even the score at 1-all.

Feet midfielder Josh Ferrell gets a cleat on a ball to keep it away from King's Academy's William Lakatosh. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

With one of only three losses through their schedule coming at the hands of King's Academy, the Feet were a little unsettled as intermission approached.

Wagner helped ease those worries by putting them ahead to stay in the 22nd minute.

"Until we started putting stuff away, (that loss) is always going to be sitting there in the back of your mind," Anderson said. "Zach getting that goal early kind of helped. That opened up and relaxed everybody a little bit."

Wagner put one into the back of the net in minute 57 to push their lead to 3-1. Ferrell followed up with goals in the 63rd and 69th minutes.

The one drawback to the match was Webb's defense seeing their scoreless streak come to an end. They hadn't allowed a goal in roughly 360 minutes.

"In the end, nobody's really worried about (the streak) because it didn't make a difference. It did end the scoreless streak, that's true, but it's about winning the game," Anderson said.

Zach Crownover came up with two saves for the Feet. Hwang, Chris Hoover and Chris Whalen had an assist each.