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[Sonny Dearth]

Lafayette beats Poquoson, stays close to Eagles
By Jeff Cunningham | CORRESPONDENT

POQUOSON -- If one were to argue soccer isn't a game of inches, then obviously they didn't see the Bay Rivers District boys match between Poquoson High and Lafayette on Thursday night.

An outstretched foot just inches from a passing ball, a player two or three steps out of position, a goalkeeper lured out from the goal ... any number of things could've painted a different picture, but as things played out, Lafayette came away with the 2-1 win at Poquoson Middle School.

"Tonight was really a game of mistakes," senior forward Mike Scruggs said. "Poquoson made some, but so did we. We just made a few fewer."

Scruggs, who scored both the Rams' goals, put in the game-winner with 7:23 left to play. Marcus Abid tapped the loose ball into the box, and Scruggs pushed it by the outstretched arm of Poquoson goalkeeper Nathan Isley.

"I just went at it and it skipped in," Scruggs said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Scruggs first struck in the game's fifth minute, putting the feed from Greg Botting into the net to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

Poquoson (8-4-1, 4-2 district) struggled to find and convert offensive opportunities for much of the night, but managed the equalizer with 28:12 left in the game as senior Luke Weaver scored off a pass from Tyler MacArthur.

"We just huddled together as a team and busted our butts," Lafayette coach Brian Sorrell said. "I'm pleased with how well we played, how we executed ... and a little luck never hurts."

Lafayette outshot Poquoson 11-8 on the soggy pitch, 7-5 in the first half. The Rams also had seven corner kicks to the Islanders' two, though neither team could convert those.

With the win, Lafayette (9-2-1, 4-1) passed Poquoson and kept within one of Bay Rivers leader Jamestown in the loss column. Though the Rams still have one more game than the rest of the district to play, Sorrell said the win makes things easier.

"It's nice whenever you can get a win in your district," he said. "We've got some tough games coming up to close out the season and we're still behind (Jamestown), but tonight really helped."

Poquoson coach Bill MacArthur, meanwhile, downplayed the impact of the loss on the district standings.

"We're still in control of our own destiny," he said. "Three games still to play ... we still have to face Jamestown, so we're not out of things by any means."

LAFAYETTE 2, POQUOSON 1

Halftime -Lafayette 1-0. Goals - Lafayette, Scruggs 2; Poquoson, MacArthur. Assists - Lafayette, Botting, Abid; Poquoson, Weaver. Saves - Lafayette, Wolfe 4; Poquoson, Isley 3. Shots - Lafayette 11, Poquoson 8. Records - Lafayette 9-2-1, 4-1 Bay Rivers; Poquoson 8-4-1, 4-2 Bay Rivers.

[WHSkeeper06]

i thought poquoson wasnt supposed to be all that great this season? bad game for lafayette? good game for poquoson?

[York Athltetics]

I think it has a lot to do with an over-rated Lafayette, and an under-rated Poquoson. Poquoson is tough at home.

[krawdaddy]

tough at home means you win at home not lose, great game lafayette going on the road and winning. especially on that field its not exactly conducive to a great touch game which makes jamestowns 5 goals the othernight that much more impressive.

[ptownsocrplayr5]

that reporter has to be the worst one yet. He got everything wrong, also lafeyettes goals were so cheap

[PumaFC]

Excellent reporting, however the game wasn't as close as the ptown boys post or press reported. Only real shot ptown had on goal was their goal. Only long throw-ins and mid field kicks the rest of the game, no offensive possession from ptown could have been 5-1 had Lafayette finished the easy ones, hit post and cross bar. Lafayette had 70% possession much like Tabb and Grafton did to them. Field was horrible, worst in the district.

[ptownsocrplayr5]

where u at the same game??? we had the ball 3/4 of the time? they hit the post once and if you want ill send you the game tape