Photo by Josh Strope Oak Glen’s Brooklyn Loveland (10) moves with the ball as Charleston Catholic’s Mills Mullen gives chase during a W.Va. Class AA/A state tournament semifinal Friday in Beckley.

BECKLEY–Oak Glen coach Ryan Wells knew what his team was getting into. An experienced Charleston Catholic squad stood in the way of the Golden Bears reaching the state title game.

The Irish controlled play from the beginning, keeping the Oak Glen offense in check and earning a 3-2 victory in a W.Va. Class AA/A state tournament semifinal Friday on Carter Field at the YMCA Youth Sports Complex.

Charleston Catholic (15-2-3), making its fourth straight appearance in the state championship game, outshot Oak Glen, 18-4.

“It was what we expected,” Wells said. “We knew they were going to be faster than us to the ball, maybe one touch better. But the girls adapted and marked man more than we had all year. We knew we were going to score on counters and set pieces. But I couldn’t be more proud of them. The ball bounces a different way one or two times, this interview is a lot different.

“But I want to congratulate Charleston Catholic. They were the better team and they deserved to win. We have scrimmaged Wheeling Park and played Parkersburg South and that was the best team we have faced all year. And they were very respectful and classy and I wish them nothing but the best (today) against (Robert C. Byrd).”

From the beginning it was all Irish. Charleston Catholic played almost the entire first half on the Oak Glen side of the field and peppered Golden Bears goalie Kaylee Travis with shot after shot.

The Oak Glen defense was solid, keeping most of the shots from far out and not allowing a rebound.

But eventually the Golden Bears (18-2) were able to get through as Lindsay Carr took a pass from Mills Mullen and beat Travis in the 19th minute.

Oak Glen didn’t get a shot off until the 33rd minute, but it was a good one.

Maggie Kovalcik sent a cross to Brooklyn Watts and the freshman made it count, firing a shot over the head of Irish netminder Raegan Good to tie the match before halftime.

Charleston Catholic didn’t panic and reasserted itself in the second half.

“Every time you are here, it helps for the next year,” Charleston Catholic coach Amy Mullen said. “This is a situation we have been in before. This year, our team, we do that. Or someone scores first and we have to play from behind. I hope it is because we are young.”

Charleston Catholic regained the lead in the 65th minute as Anna Hewitt’s header off a corner kick bounced off a Golden Bears defender and into the net.

Less than six minutes later, the Irish added an insurance goal as Mills Mullen, who has played in five games this season because of a knee injury suffered during the state basketball tournament, fired a deep shot that went over Travis’ head and in for a 3-1 advantage.

It was a goal that was needed.

Reece Enochs scored with more than two minutes remaining to pull the Golden Bears within one, but they never got another shot off.

“We are realists on this team and we tell them what we are up against us, but 18 shots, the shots they took, they were from far away. That is just a number. Our defense wasn’t being overwhelmed and we weren’t scrambling and diving all over,” Wells said. “The possession was lopsided and we couldn’t get the ball to our forwards.”

Enochs and Kovalcik combined for 62 goals this season, but neither found any breathing room as the Charleston Catholic defense was glued to them all game.

“Initially they were very close and you just had to adapt and move on,” Kovalcik said.

Enochs added: “Our team had never experienced anything like that before. Fairmont Senior was the first team that really pushed us. (Charleston Catholic) was super tough and on our backs the entire time. I looked back and No. 5 (Elizabeth Rushworth) never left my shoulder and tried to get in my head.

“We lose three seniors but this will make us tougher and we are hoping to come back next year.”

One of those seniors lost is Kovalcik, who has helped build the foundation for a Golden Bears team that has won three of the last four OVAC titles and tasted the state tournament for the first time.

“It was the every day drive, the put your shin guards on, put your cleats on, and knowing you have to lead,” Kovalcik said. “As a senior and also an experienced player, you can’t have off days and you can’t have weak days because those will transition into your game. It is always about keeping your head up and practicing with everything you have so it shows during the game and that is what I hope I left on them.”