Huskies are going to the ship! Hough shuts out South Meck, advances to NCHSAA finals
For the first time in four years, Hough’s Huskies are going to the N.C. 4A state soccer championship.
Hough scored in the first 15 seconds Tuesday in front of a huge crowd at home and then played great defense to beat South Mecklenburg 1-0.
Hough (22-3-1) will play Wilmington’s New Hanover (26-0-1) Saturday at the Wake Med Soccer Park in Raleigh for the state title. The start time of the game will be determined by state officials on Wednesday. New Hanover beat Cardinal Gibbons 4-2 in the Eastern Regional State Soccer Final Tuesday night.
In Cornelius, Hough kicked off to start the game and stunned South Mecklenburg with its early score.
Senior forward Eugenia de la Parra Polina got a bit behind the South Meck defense on the left flank, and tried to beat Sabres’ keeper Anthony Chatot with a shot to the far post. The shot just missed but Antonio Lagua was streaking to the box and was there to score to give Hough an early lead.
And the Huskies lone goal held up.
“I would have told them they were crazy and it would never hold up,” said Hough coach David Smith.. “We’ve been defending the best we have all season in the playoffs. That’s our fourth shutout in five games and we haven’t done that all season. So, it’s come together at the right time.”
South Meck had its best chance to tie the match with five minutes left in the first half. A Sabres’ corner kick was perfectly placed in the box and pinballed around several times, but somehow stayed out.
In the second half, South Meck sharpshooting midfielder Kheynne Ona took two Sabres’ free kicks just outside the box. Ona, who scored nearly a goal a game for South Meck this season, just missed on both attempts with the two shots barely sailing above the crossbar.
After the game Lagua described the biggest goal of his career.
“The first five minutes of the game are the most intense and you have to set the tone,” said Lagua. “The first shot I was just running up as fast as I could and I was there. And thankfully that was the right spot to be.”
RECORDS: South Mecklenburg (17-4-4); Hough (22-3-1)
THREE WHO MATTERED:
Eric Kniple, Hough: Sophomore goalkeeper made five saves while facing eight shots to pitch the 1-0 shutout.
Kheynne One, South Meck: senior midfielder was dangerous all night, finishing with five shots.
Griffin Klebba, Hough: Senior midfielder and a key player on defense for the Huskies helped lead the Hough defense to the 1-0 shutout win over South Meck.
THEY SAID IT: “It’s everything I ever dreamed of. We’ve been waiting for it since freshman year when we got knocked out by Myers Park, and now it’s our turn with a victory.” Hough midfielder Griffin Klebba on realizing he and the Hough Huskies had advanced to the state championship.
WORTH MENTIONING:
Including the playoffs, the Huskies pitched nine shutouts during the season, including four of five in the playoffs.
Klebba was forced to the leave the game in the second half for 20 minutes due to injury, but was able to return with 16 minutes left in the match.
Hough and the Sabres played each other once during the regular season on October 19 at South Meck, with the game finishing level at 1-1.
This Saturday’s state title game is the first for Hough’s boys soccer team in four years, when they lost to Cardinal Gibbons 2-1 in its last attempt.
Hough outshot South Meck 10-7 for the match.
