Glass girls win big

By Nathan Warters

Published: May 21, 2008

It’s been an uneventful three weeks for the E.C. Glass girls soccer team.

The Hilltoppers, who clinched the Western Valley District regular-season title three weeks ago, have known for that long that they are going to the Northwest Region playoffs. So there really hasn’t been much to play for.

“I think they’ve been in a tough position mentally because they’ve had three weeks where they’ve known they’re going to regionals, and they played two regular-season games that were a bit meaningless in the standings,” Glass coach Darien McClurg said after his team’s 7-0 win over GW in Wednesday’s WVD tourney semifinals at City Stadium. “I think mentally, that’s a tough hump to get over.”

That may have been a distraction for Glass in the first half against the Eagles. It led 3-0, but it wasn’t particularly sharp.

The second half was a different story. The Hilltoppers buckled down and showed the mettle necessary to win in the playoffs.

“We’re in a position where a loss doesn’t cost us because we’re already in the regionals, but we certainly need to keep playing better as we get to regionals,” McClurg said.

Freshman forward Dessi Dupuy scored twice for Glass (13-3-1), and freshman midfielder Ashlea Caylor had a goal and two assists.

The Hilltoppers can clinch their fourth straight WVD regular-season/tournament championship sweep with a win over Franklin County Friday. Glass hosts the title game at 7 p.m. on the turf field behind the school.

They host a first round region game against the Cedar Run District’s second seed on Monday at 7. That game will also be played at the school.