LITHIA — Newsome squandered numerous opportunities to score early in a Class 5A region quarterfinal against Orlando Timber Creek.
Once Newsome cracked the back of the net for the first time, however, the goals came in bunches for a Wolves team peaking at the right time.
Newsome scored four goals within a 20-minute span and held Timber Creek without a shot on goal to win 4-0 and advance to the region semis for the first time in three seasons.
Newsome (16-4-2) has won seven straight.
“It was scary at first,” Newsome coach Allen Ware said. “We had some chances that we should have put away, and we didn’t.”
Newsome junior forward Eric Lint had two breakaway opportunities against Timber Creek goalkeeper Tyler Richards (seven saves) in the first three minutes. The opening chance was tackled away from behind; the second was blocked by Richards.
Newsome continued to capitalize on multiple turnovers from a shaky Timber Creek (15-5-2) defense, but Jake Vander Luit hit the left post with a 15-yard shot in the 15th minute and skipped a shot wide in the 32nd.
Two minutes before halftime, Austin Cobb finally broke through for Newsome, tucking a 25-yard free kick inside the near post for a 1-0 lead at the break.
“That first goal relaxed us a little,” Ware said.
Newsome continued the scoring surge after the break. Lint tracked down a pass on the left wing, dribbled into the box, cut back toward the center of the field and curled a right-footed shot past Richards in the 44th minute.
Three minutes later, Vander Luit powered a header past Richards off a feed from Cobb.
“The first 10 minutes of the second half was crucial, to be able to come out and score two,” Ware said.
Vander Luit, who missed two months of the season with two torn ligaments in his right ankle and returned in time for districts, made the score 4-0 Newsome after looping a header over Richards off a corner-kick pass from Lint in the 57th minute.
“On that second goal, I saw the near post wide open and went for it,” said Vander Luit, a junior. “To be able to go out there and work hard and score goals, especially being out for two months, feels really good.”
More 5A: Durant suffered its third shutout loss of the season, falling to Orlando Freedom 3-0 on the road in the region quarterfinals. The defeat ends the Cougars’ season at 7-6-2 and cuts short their first playoff run since 2011.