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WHEELING - Coach Mario Julian's Wheeling Park boys' soccer roster is one littered with sophomores and juniors, but very few seniors.

However, it was two of those seniors, keeper Ian Anderson and defender Billy Fanning, along with junior sensation Josh Henderson that eventually made the difference in a West Virginia Class AAA sectional semifinal against Morgantown on Tuesday evening.

Henderson scored a pair of second-half goals, while Anderson and Fanning led a defensive effort that resulted in a shutout as the Patriots advanced to the sectional championship game with a 2-0 victory against the Mohigans at Wheeling Island Stadium.

Julian's Wheeling Park team stands at 13-4-4 and will be back in action Thursday with the sectional crown up for grabs against University, a 4-1 winner against Brooke. The Patriots will travel to Morgantown to play the Hawks.

Good passing and steady defense highlighted both team's play in the opening half, which ended in a scoreless deadlock.

''We understand we have a young team, and most of these kids are getting their first opportunity to take part in the state playoffs,'' Julian said. ''But we talked at the half about being more patient, settling down and having some of our better players step up and taking control.

''Josh (Henderson) really got that message and came out and took over.''

Morgantown coach Joe Melia switched keepers at the half, inserting senior Salvatore Angotti into the contest, only to have him take the brunt of Henderson's assault on the net.

Henderson's first goal, the only one the Patriots needed, came in the 44th minute on a long feed from junior A.J. Railing right down the center of the field. Railing's pass, from about 45 yards out, was picked up by Henderson deep in the box, where he maneuvered the ball, put on a spin move and blasted a shot pas Angotti into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

The Mohigans (9-8-3) misfired on a pair of key chances a short time later when senior Alexander Ives broke loose and tracked down a pass from junior Philip Tuerk, but was off the mark wide left on an open shot in the 29th minute.

Three minutes later, a direct kick off the from right outside the box off the foot of Evan Massullo was deflected over the goal by Anderson.

Wheeling Park advanced the ball downfield quickly and missed a couple of golden opportunities a short time later to keep the count at 1-0.

Henderson delivered the dagger at with 10:15 to play when his penalty kick beat Angotti to the left side of the net for the insurance goal the Patriots needed.

''Josh was just absolutely outstanding the second half,'' Julian said. ''I think we made the game too difficult for ourselves in the first half, being impatient and anxious, but Billy (Fanning) took so much pressure off of us defensively with his downfield kicks and Ian (Anderson) did another outstanding job in goal.

''And the goal on the penalty kick definitely made things a lot more relaxing for us in the final ten minutes. There have been many games when we have given up a goal late, with a two goal lead and have to work through it.

''But we have been practicing on being up two goals and playing all the way to the end. You have to play the whole 80 minutes to be successful and we did that (Tuesday).''

Melia knew that his team had chances, but also felt the Patriots just outplayed them.

''We missed so many opportunities and they took advantage of theirs and they deserved to win,'' he said. ''The penalty kick really took the wind out of our sails, but they outplayed us the whole game.''

Anderson finished with nine saves in recording the shutout in net for Wheeling Park.

Ohio

Division II Sectionals

Minerva 1, Steubenville 0

STEUBENVILLE - Steubenville goalie Chris Nehrbas stopped five shots, but not the one from Colin Douglas as Minerva won a defensive battle to eliminate Big Red.

Steubenville's season ended at 11-5-1.

Carrollton 4, Indian Creek 1

STEUBENVILLE - Dylan McLean scored all four goals for Carrollton, three in the second half, to knock out Indian Creek.

A.J. Bretell scored the lone goal for the Redskins (8-8), while Eric Price and Garrett Conn combined to stop 10 shots.

Girls

Division II Sectionals

St. Clairsville 4, Ridgewood 0

STEUBENVILLE - Jaclyn Dutton recorded a hat trick to lead St. Clairsville past Ridgewood.

Chelsea Wamsley added the other goal for the Red Devils, while sophomore goalie Jasmine Vincent kept Ridgewood off the board with three saves.

St. Clairsville moves on to play Edison at 7:40 p.m. on Thursday at Harding Stadium in Steubenville.