ST. CLAIRSVILLE - A good week for the Weir boys' soccer team got even better Thursday night against St. Clairsville.
After recording a 3-0 triumph at Tyler Consolidated 48 hours earlier, Coach Joe Pepe's Riders handed the Red Devils their first loss by a 2-1 count.
Pepe's squad is off to an equally strong start. Thursday's decision improved Weir to 7-2 while Gary Watt's Red Devils are 4-1-1.
''That's a very good St. Clairsville club we just beat,'' Pepe said. ''We were hoping there would be a momentum carryover from Tuesday and that was the case. Our kids stepped up and played two solid halves.''
Weir was a 2-0 leader and less than a minute from earning its second consecutive shutout before St. C. was awarded a penalty kick, the result of an illegal push (in the box area).
Red Devils' senior midfielder Logan Young was able to beat Riders' goalkeeper Josh Barney on the in-close blast. Weir then had no problem running off the match's final 24 seconds before time expired.
Watt praised Barney's work in front of the net.
''I thought he made a very difficult (second-half) save which turned out to be really clutch for them,'' the Devils' coach said.
Weir broke a scoreless deadlock 19:47 before the half when Kenny Muhart, with a full head of steam, split two St. C. defenders and connected past St. C.'s Anthony DeNoble. Muhart's go-ahead tally was set up by teammate Alex Hannah.
The Red Riders struck again with 23:27 remaining off a corner kick which Chad Hensley redirected into St. C.'s net. Hannah was charted for his second assist on the play.
''This was a highly competitive match played between two strong clubs,'' Pepe said. ''It's not out of the question, we could see St. C. again down the road.''
Weir returns to action Tuesday when Brooke invades for a 5 p.m. start. St. Clairsville is on the road Tuesday, facing Steubenville Big Red in a 6:30 p.m. match.WHEELING - Mason George scored for Linsly and Leo Hermann found the back of the net for Steubenville Catholic and that's the way it stayed as the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie in boys' prep soccer action Monday.
Dylan Curtis (Cadets) and Alex Huff (Crusaders) had an assist each. Steubenville Catholic goalie Andrew Duska stopped four shots.
