NWD boys' soccer: Yost helps Wood edge Sherando on PKs

May 23, 2011

By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star       

STEPHENS CITY- As the James Wood boys' soccer team prepared for overtime, goalkeeper Elliot Shiben couldn't help but comment on the thickness of a couple of observers' shirts because of how hot it was Saturday afternoon.

If Shiben could be that casual then, it's no wonder he seemed as cool as ice in soccer's ultimate pressure cooker.

After 100 minutes of scoreless play in regulation and overtime at Arrowhead Stadium, Shiben stopped two of four shots to lift No. 1 James Wood to a 4-2 advantage over No. 4 Sherando in penalty kicks in the Northwestern District semifinals.

"He's made some great saves this year," said junior midfielder Logan Yost, who was swarmed by teammates after converting the clinching penalty kick. "In [our win over] Millbrook, he made probably the best save of the year of any goalie in the district.

"He's a solid keeper, and [in a shootout], I know he's going to save at least one."

The regular-season champion Colonels (8-5-2) will attempt to add the tournament title to their ledger against No. 3 Millbrook at 6 p.m. in Tuesday's district final at Sherando. Both teams certainly had their chances to win the game before penalty kicks in an evenly-played game. With both sides playing quite aggressively at times, James Wood had 15 shots and Sherando (6-8-3) had 14.

Of course, no matter what a goalie faces in regulation, nothing is harder than a shootout. For Shiben, Saturday's was as intense as it gets, but the seemingly perpetually sunny Shiben felt excitement too.

"Especially once I made that first save," Shiben said. "Exuberant, I guess, would be a good word."

It certainly lifted his teammates' spirits. With the shootout score 1-1, Shiben dived low to his left to and got to Andrew Patterson's grounded shot in plenty of time, corralling the ball in the middle of his body.

"There's little things you've got to pick up on," said Shiben, who didn't want to reveal exactly what helped put him in such good position to make the save. "I do have a little method to my madness. I'm not trying to tip my hand too much. Lord knows, this is a tight district."

After that save, it was still a tight shootout. Sherando goalkeeper Rodrigo Casteriana got a hand on the ensuing shot by Josh Marts and nearly kept it even, but the ball ricocheted off the right post and in for a 2-1 James Wood lead.

The combined results of those two shots gave Shiben confidence the Colonels could win, because the team had been superb all week in converting penalty kicks in practice.

Spencer Marfing gave James Wood a 3-2 lead, Shiben stopped Alex Burns on another shot grounded to the right, and then Yost buried the clincher.

"That was awesome," said Yost of the ensuing celebration. "Josh came running at me, and I'd never seen him run so fast. That was just fantastic."

James Wood coach Chris Hild said some of his players thought they were actually spending too much time this week on penalty kicks. But it clearly worked out, and now a James Wood team that will make its first Region II appearance knows it can handle postseason pressure.

"We have the experience, and that's always a good thing," he said.

Though the Warriors were clearly disappointed, Saturday showed its continued growth.

Warriors coach Pat Anderson said they were a little surprised by the Colonels' three-forward alignment at the outset, but they adjusted, settled in, and might have advanced had they been able to finish some high-percentage chances.

Sherando adjusted well against everyone this year - before Saturday, the Warriors had gone 5-0-1 after a 1-7-2 start.

"Where we came from the beginning of the year, to being able to shut teams out and play good, smart, defensive soccer, was good," Anderson said. "We had just two seniors who played the entire year and two returning starters, so we had to revamp the whole thing. I'm pleased with the way they played."

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