Daviess County is one win away from advancing to their third state title game in the last four years, as they square off against East Carter today in the boys’ soccer tournament semifinals.
Game time is 5 p.m. CST at Bryan Station High School in Lexington.
Without much knowledge about their opponent, the Panthers (20-2-2) are focusing on themselves — a strategy that’s proven successful during their postseason run.
Though DC enters as the favored team, head coach Doug Sandifer isn’t looking ahead.
“All we’re putting into it is they are our Final Four opponent,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to focus on to try to get to the state championship game. We’re preparing like it’s any other game. We’re certainly not overlooking them or thinking it’s going to be easy.”
The Raiders (19-3-1) won the 62nd District and then the 16th Region before victories over South Laurel and Prestonsburg in the first two rounds of the state tournament.
Sandifer said he’s only got a little information on the opposition, but he’s hoping East Carter has the same problem in trying to prepare.
“(Leading scorer Ethan Miller) is definitely somebody we have to watch out for,” he said. “It looked like they had a couple of pretty good center midfielders and they have a pretty decent goalkeeper. I’m kind of hoping they come in a little bit like us with not much information.
“We have to make sure we do things well offensively but also make sure that we are prepared defensively to face a good team.”
Miller is the Raiders’ biggest offensive threat, as his 40 goals thus far ranks fourth in the state.
DC’s Jacob Boling leads the team from all over the field, and his team-high 32 goals is tied for 11th-most in the state. Hunter Clark is the other major weapon, as he’s now up to 22 goals and 22 assists.
Both defenses have been stingy, with the Raiders only allowing 23 goals and the Panthers giving up just 27.
Sandifer said while he’s hoping for another trip to the championship game, he’s making sure DC’s focus is strictly on East Carter.
“We really try to keep them grounded and not look ahead at the ultimate prize,” he said of the approach at each stage this postseason. “Instead we just tell them what we need to do to get pass our next opponent.”
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2019 soccer coverage is presented by Worth Insurance Group.
