Boys regional soccer: Avon shuts out rival Avon Lake, 3-0, to advance to state Final 4

AMHERST — The two matches may have been separated by just over a month at different stadiums, but when Avon and Avon Lake met for the second time Sunday night with a spot in the state Final 4 on the line, it was the same result, an Avon victory. The Eagles won 3-0 to follow up their 2-0 win over the Shoremen on Oct. 1, securing their second trip to the state tournament in five seasons. "I'm ecstatic," said Avon coach Chris Doré. "You never know what's going to happen in big games like this, especially when you play against a team that's won 18 games. I'm just happy that we were able to rise to the occasion." Avon looked like the better team from the start, but it took 20 minutes for it to record a shot on target. That one was all the Eagles needed, however, with London Carnie getting on the end of an excellent Brock Harman cross to head his team into the lead. "I saw Brock dribbling down the line and I knew he was going to cross it in," Carnie said. "It was a perfect cross to me, right at the back post, and the goal was open." The goal was the only real opportunity of the first half for the Eagles, but on the other end, its defense completely stifled a potent Shoremen attack and took a 1-0 lead into the half. "The last month and a half, our defense has been playing lights out," Doré said. "But in this sport, you've got to defend all over the field." Despite how good Avon's defense had been in the first half, Doré thought his team needed at least one more goal, and made sure his team knew what they needed to do in the second half. "Being up just one at halftime gave us motivation to come out and get the second," he said. "Our whole ambition at halftime was making sure we started the second half the right way, and they did it." While Harman provided an excellent assist for the first goal, his pass for the second was even better — a deft back heel just five minutes into the second half that fell into the path of Mateo Muratore, who curled home a beautiful strike into the far corner to double Avon's advantage. "I saw one kid coming across me and another on my back, and I knew Mateo was running in," Harman said. "I knew I could get the ball to him, so it was just a quick back heel, and he had a one touch finish." "Sometimes attacking players feel like they have to take over and dominate the whole game," Doré said. "But, really, they just have to be big in certain moments, and that's what Brock's been doing for us all year." The Eagles' second goal took a lot of air out of the game, but they scored one more for good measure when Valentino Cruzado fired home a loose ball with just over 10 minutes to go to seal the victory. Sunday night was just Avon Lake's second loss of the season, with both coming against Avon. "I feel bad for the boys," said Avon Lake coach Pete Klepek. "They tried. It just wasn't our night." Of the 11 goals the Shoremen conceded this season, five came in the two matches against the Eagles. For a pair of teams that are two of the best their schools have ever seen, one thing became abundantly clear Sunday night. Avon simply has Avon Lake's number this season, and thanks to that, it is Avon that will take on Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Tuesday for a spot in the state championship. Box Score Avon 3, Avon Lake 0 Goals: AL - none; A - London Carnie (20th minute), Mateo Muratore (45th minute), Valentino Cruzado (68th minute) Assists: AL - none; A - Brock Harman 2 Goalkeepers: AL - Lucas Pentz (1 save); A - Oliver Dobrovic (3 saves) Shots on goal: AL - 3; A - 4 Fouls: AL - 16; A - 14 Corner kicks: AL - 2; A - 1 Offside: AL - 2; A - 1 Yellow cards: AL - Silas Spagnola, Owen Logterman, Guy Goldyn Halftime - Avon, 1-0