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After his starting lineup of then freshmen and sophomores suffered a lopsided loss in last year’s Class 3 boys soccer state quarterfinals, Lafayette High coach Bobby O’Brien has been curious to see whether the experience would help them at that level this season.
O’Brien will get his chance thanks to the Rams’ 3-1 win over York in the Class 3 Region A tournament semifinals on Tuesday at Wanner Stadium. The victory earns the Rams (8-7-3) a return trip to the state tournament in addition to a spot in the region final on Thursday at Bailey Field against the Tabb-Petersburg winner.
Sophomore midfielder Ever Salamanca led the Rams’ attack with two assists and a goal. Junior defender Atticus Kamara anchored a unit that allowed York few good looks at the goal.
“This is just another chance to show that we can make it far,” Kamara said. “I feel like this time we can really show.”
Salamanca and the attack showed early on Tuesday. He made a nice run on goal, then left-footed a cross to Jaxon Wright, who slotted the ball in to give the Rams a 1-0 lead in with 35:04 left in the first half.
“From the start, we tried to go fast and quick,” Salamanca said.
The Falcons evened the score at a goal apiece six minutes later. Tyler Quick gathered the rebound of a ball Rams goalkeeper Clark Canova punched out of goal and rocketed it high into the back of the back netting from 12 yards to equalize.
Lafayette dominated the run of play much of the way from there. Salamanca assisted Rocco Valenti on his long-range goal that gave the Rams a 2-1 lead with 11:47 to play in the first half.
The margin could have been larger, but Parker Speas made a pair of saves at the feet of would-be Lafayette scorers inside the penalty box. Despite the Rams’ pressure, it took until the final minute, when Salamanca converted a penalty kick, to stretch the lead to two goals.
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Kamara got help in the Rams’ strong defensive effort from Eli Johnson, Jake Cantrell and Kai Moore.
“It’s just communication and trying to get everybody in their exact spots to start,” Kamara said. “If you’re starting off right, the rest will go well.”
It is an axiom the Rams hope applies in the region final on Thursday, when the opponent will almost certainly be defending state champion Tabb. It will be a final chance before the state tournament to see if last year’s experience will help the Rams this year.
“We’re still a work in progress and that bodes well for next year, having three years of this same group,” O’Brien said. “But you never want to look that far ahead.
“Hopefully, we can get a win and not be on the road for our state quarterfinal.”