Dulaney Sets Playoff Tone with 9-0 Win

In the time it took me to drop my pen and pick it up again, the Lions managed to score the first goal of the post-season.

They then went on to strike eight more times against Woodlawn High School Monday afternoon.

Less than 20 seconds after the kick-off, senior co-captain David Wylie found the ball at his feet inside the box for a possible school record for fastest goal scored in the playoffs.

The Warriors were outclassed by Dulaney, which managed to control the game for 80 minutes by winning nearly every 50-50 ball and maintaining a staggering 85 percent possession.

"We did what we had to do against an opponent that gave a lot of heart, but obviously wasn't a competitive soccer program," head coach Jerry Tana said. "They fought hard and we got the chance to work on our finishing, which we need. Those opportunities are not going to be there at the next level in the state, which will be tougher competition."

The Warriors' offensive output was nearly non-existent. Both Lion keepers touched the ball for a cumulative four times during the match, off of  long balls that failed to reach the team's strikers.

Despite the crushing loss, Woodlawn's team remained positive, going as far as to wish Dulaney luck in the next round after the match. In the second half, when it seemed the Warriors had given up, the players could be overheard joking to one another about who took the worst goal kick.

"For the most part our season was a big boost for us," assistant coach Chris DuPrau said. "We got up to five wins this year. When I found out this morning that our star player couldn't play because of a pulled hamstring that obviously put a damper on this game.

"They're a great team and they're probably going to move on very far," DuPrau said. "We aren't there yet. They are where we want to be and hopefully some day we are there. It's a growing process."

Dulaney will play either Kenwood or Urbana Friday for the regional semi-finals. The Lions narrowly defeated Kenwood 1-0 during conference play, while Urbana eliminated Dulaney from the tournament last year.

"It's one of those things where it's good to win like that before a big game," Dulaney assistant coach Sean Rush said. "It's a confidence builder. David Wylie got three goals. Nat Wah got three assists. But our next game, it's going to be night and day to what we just saw."

Wylie's speedy goal would've been enough to take the team to the next round, but the Lions didn't let up. The team terrorized the Warrior defense, which struggled to properly clear the ball throughout the game.

Junior midfielder Zach Gude helped lay the foundation for Dulaney with a goal off a Nate Wah cross with 27 minutes to play. Wah couldn't be touched breaking down the flank. Another cross found senior Nick Libertini for the one-time volley into the back of the net with 25 minutes to play.

Wylie pounced on a deflection off the post from an outside shot, cleaning up the loose ball for his second of the match.

Then lightening struck again in the Warrior's defensive third with another Wah to Gude goal. Wah beat two defenders to find Gude who neatly tucked a low shot into the near post.

Senior co-captain Mike Constantine owned the midfield winning every 50-50 ball that came his way. He sent a long-ball to Libertini who unselfishly dished it off to Wylie for the hat-trick and a 6-0 advantage at the half.

"It's great to open up the playoffs with a win like this" Wylie said. "Everyone showed 100 percent effort. We were out there moving the ball, working hard, winning 50-50 balls.

"We really didn't play down to our competition and that's great setting the tone, going into the playoffs. We got the fight for our lives on Friday whether it be Kenwood or Urbana."

With the win basically secured, Tana began subbing into his second-stringers.

"We are very proud that the fourth time out of 11 games, we cleared the bench, he said. "That's unprecedented. That's what I'm most proud of. We won nine games, we're a good team, but we paid back those boys. We're only as good as our practice team makes us."

Junior forward Oneall Mogliazzi scored a goal after a scuffle in the defense. His shot deflected off a Warrior defender and bounced into the back of the net.

Senior defender Keegen Bremer had his moment of glory late into the second half, heading in a corner kick.

Junior midfielder Gabe Campoverde capped off the scoring spree after collecting his own rebound of the goalie's gloves and firing away from close range.