MIDDLETOWN -- Ignoring its fourth-seeded status, Liberty flexed its offensive muscle in last night's Class 2A, Region I matchup against top seed Middletown, drubbing its Frederick County foes, 3-1.
With the win, the Lions (7-5-1) earned a trip to Saturday's finals against Glenelg, which defeated North Hagerstown, 3-2, earlier.
Kevin Henderson, who scored just one goal during the regular season, broke loose for a game-high two goals. Justin Dunbar had a goal and an assist.
"We moved Kevin up to striker from the midfield with a couple games left just to see what he could do for us," said Liberty coach Lee Kesler. "He's a good ballhandler and he has great one-on-one skills, and he showed us both tonight."
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Lions striker Chris North hit a 30-yard shot just a foot wide, as both he and Henderson kept pressure on the Knights (11-1-2).
The visitors' constant offensive thrusts paid dividends with two minutes remaining in the half, when Henderson one-touched a pass from Dunbar, placing a low, right-footed shot into the left corner.
It was 12 minutes into the second half before the Lions struck again, as Dunbar settled a pass from Cory Zeigenfuss and kicked it left-footed into the left corner.
The Knights cut the lead in half midway through the period, when Basil Talonu headed in a corner kick from midfielder Matt Hollis. Undaunted, Henderson scored his second goal, on a direct kick.
