Handley boys rout Wood with 10 goals

WINCHESTER — Now, that's more like it.

In Handley's first game since James Wood nearly spoiled its perfect season on Friday at Kelican Stadium, the Judges returned home and responded with a resounding 10-0 win in the Region 4D quarterfinals on Wednesday at James R. Wilkins Jr. Stadium.

North top-seeded Handley had only allowed five goals all season until No. 4 James Wood found the goal five times on Friday, with the Judges needing an overtime goal from Ramon Diaz-Guzman to win 6-5 in overtime.

On Wednesday, Diaz-Guzman had a hat trick when he scored to put the Judges up 5-0 after 16 minutes, and there would be no James Wood scoring outburst on this warm afternoon. The Judges had a 24-1 shot advantage in a game that was called after 60 minutes due to the rule that halts games once a team has an eight-goal lead at that point in the game or later.

All told, Handley (17-0) scorched James Wood (9-7-1) to the tune of 19-0 in two games on its home turf this year, earning a 9-0 win on April 30. The Judges will now host No. 2 Charlottesville (12-3-2) — a 3-0 winner over No. 3 Millbrook on Wednesday — in the Region 4D semifinals.

"We definitely had to make a statement today, especially after Friday's game," said Diaz-Guzman, one of seven people who scored. "We knew we were the better team and we had the quality to beat them by a lot more."

Handley coach Cosmo Balio said the Judges were not pleased with what happened on Friday, and he wanted his team to set a tone that could carry over to the rest of the postseason. Not even a 50-minute delay due to lightning before the game started was going to throw the team off its mission.

"We talked about how we've got to come out with energy to move forward, and I thought our energy was great right off the bat," Balio said.

The Judges struck first by catching James Wood unprepared. Just over a minute into the game, the Colonels were called for a hand ball a little more than 20 yards away. Before James Wood had a chance to set up its defense, Diaz-Guzman had already sent the direct kick opportunity into a wide-open space in the back of the net.

Diaz-Guzman said midfielder Jack Justice urged him to take it quickly. Balio said the Judges have scored three times this year by catching teams off guard before they could get organized on free kicks.

"[James Wood goalkeeper Zach Myers] went to the post, and we were seeing from the sideline that [an opportunity] was there," Balio said. "We're not going to ask for 10 [yards of space] if we don't have to. That's just soccer IQ [by our players] there."

James Wood coach Ronald Velasquez said giving up a goal that quickly in unusual fashion took a toll.

"When you give up one early here, it's tough for us to be able to stay in it," Velasquez said. "Especially coming off after Friday, where it's a different game on our field. We were up at one point. It's different here. It's tough."

The Colonels' woes continued with an own goal. Handley right back Skip Dickson played a ball along the ground from the right side that James Wood mishit in the fifth minute, resulting in a 2-0 score.

In the sixth minute, Handley would convert the first of four goals in which it finished off a free kick or corner kick assist.

Dash Fitzsimmons (two assists) played a free kick from 40 yards out that Diaz-Guzman touched before it went in to make it 3-0. After James Fowler finished a pass from Isaac Carter for a 4-0 lead, Diaz-Guzman headed in a Jag Fitzsimmons (one goal) corner in the 16th minute just moments after the Colonels appeared to get a little momentum when Myers (six saves) saved Jag's penalty kick.

"We talk about being the 'bully in the box,'" Balio said. "We've been that on corners and anything in the box."

Axel Grimaldo (Jackson Justice assist) and Carter (Dash Fitzsimmons assist) also scored off corners. The Judges also got goals from Frankie Gomez and Finn Slaughter and an assist from Combs.

Balio was impressed by Diaz-Guzman's continued ability to finish his opportunities this year, and Jag Fitzsimmons' role in setting up Handley's attack.

"There wasn't a lot on the stat sheet today [for Jag], but I thought in general we went through him," Balio said. "He drew a lot of attention, which opened up our outside flanks for us. Once our guys kind of figure where the weaknesses of a team are, they're going to go at it until you can stop us. Today, we felt there outside backs were a little on the weaker side, and guys like Ramon, Sebastian Moore and Micah Combs played well for us [on the wings]."

Handley's defense got back to its customary shutout play, and Balio was pleased with what Dickson did in particular to contribute to a defense that lost original starter Eniel Cedillo-Ramos Jr. to injury earlier this season. Owen Turnbull only had to make one save in goal.

For James Wood, making the regional tournament after a rough go of it in Velasquez's first season was definitely a success. The Colonels went 4-13 last year, and one of those victories was a forfeit decision over the Judges.

James Wood will lose five seniors (Colin Craig, Tyler DeWarf, Colby Fields, Sam Frigaard and Chris Viera) from an 18-player roster.

"The season was a lot different from last year," Velasquez said. "I just wish we could have came out and put an actual performance in. It's tough for the seniors.

"We're going to be even stronger next year. We're keeping really the same team, and lot of the other [area] schools will be losing a lot of key players. I'm happy with what we're bringing back for next year."

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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