Weir Boys Earn Back-to-Back Titles in OVAC Soccer
Gresko’s Second-Half Header Is a Winner
WHEELING — Sometimes a game can be won by just letting cooler heads prevail.
In a match that was as testy and physical as it was competitive, Weir was able to take advantage of a two-man advantage in earning its second straight OVAC boys’ soccer championship, winning the Class 4-A game against Steubenville, 2-1, on Saturday at Wheeling Island Stadium.
Tied at 1-1 midway through the second half, emotions got the best of Steubenville’s Justice Slappy, who was given a red card and ejected from the game.
That was all Weir coach Jim Luevano needed to dial up the pressure.
“We started out playing a 4-4-2 and we went to a 4-5-1 so we can play a little more of a defense game, but if we happen to possess the ball, then we can get numbers up,” Luevano said.
Minutes after Slappy was dismissed, Weir took advantage.
Off a corner kick, Ryan Bodrog sent a perfect pass into the middle and senior Michael Gresko headed the ball past Steubenville goalie Jacob Clevenger to put the Red Riders (9-2) up 2-1 in the 64th minute.
“It was sweet,” Luevano said. “We don’t practice (crossing plays) a lot, but we do work on them. When we play Steubenville, it seems like we are always changing something up to try and put something together to work to beat them. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t work as well.”
It was a crossing play in the first half that put Weir on the scoreboard just before halftime.
Trailing 1-0 after Steubenville scored in the 16th minute on a goal by Codey Criss, Weir’s Luke Tenaglio had the ball deep into Big Red territory when he crossed it into the front of the net where Chayton Luevano was there to head the ball past Clevenger to tie the game.
Steubenville (9-2) found itself in more trouble as Marc Porter was given a red card and sent to the sideline with eight minutes to go. All told, officials handed out six cards in the match — two red, four yellow.
“We told them when they came off that they have to stay calm,” Coach Luevano said. “You can’t play a dirty game of soccer.”
For Steubenville, the top seed in the tournament, it was another playoff disappointment. Despite being one of the most successful teams in the valley with three regular-season division titles, Big Red has yet to win an on-field championship.
“This is not the result we were hoping for,” Steubenville coach Greg Bowers said. “The first 20 minutes, we did what we wanted to. It changed on a few plays.
“We had to keep our heads but we also had to protect ourselves. It is a physical game, sometimes they go your way and sometimes they don’t. We had to pull out a couple of defenders to try and get an attack going. We did excellent playing with eight guys.”
Steubenville had its best chance to score with eight minutes to go as Adam DiCarlo’s shot was knocked away by Weir goalie Brett Hinchee, but right to Big Red’s Joseph Venditti. The junior couldn’t capitalize, instead booting the ball over the net.
Weir held on to clinch its third title and second in a row. The Red Riders won the 5A division last season.
“It is nice to win the back-to-backs but we still try to take it one game at time,” Luevano said. “These guys really work hard. These guys knew what they were up against. We practiced hard this week and it paid off.”
Class 5A
Morgantown 3, University 2
Morgantown had goals from Abel Knight, Rediet Knight and Fady Wasef as the Mohigans defeated city rival University for its fourth OVAC title.
Collin Mocyunas scored both goals for the Hawks.
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