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By KIM NORTH
For The Intelligencer
ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Despite coming off an emotional win over Steubenville on Saturday, a team St. Clairsville hadn't beaten in six years, Red Devils head coach Jeff Roberts wasn't worried about a letdown against Indian Creek Tuesday night.
And for good reason.
Roberts watched his veteran Red Devils score on their first shot of the game — just over a minute in — and never looked back in blanking the visiting Redskins (0-1-1) on the soggy pitch inside Red Devils Stadium. The match was played in a light mist for the first 40 minutes before a heavy drizzle took over in the second half.
"That was a very emotional win," Roberts said of a 4-0 whitewashing off Big Red. "There might've been a slight worry, but we've got a lot of seniors and juniors that have been around the game for a while. I felt like they would come out and perform, and they did."
Jack Gasber took a nifty cross from Andy Schmidt and one-timed the ball past Indian Creek goalkeeper Trevor Francis for the only net-finder Roberts and his Red Devils would need in improving to 3-1 on the young season.
"The initial score really helped," Roberts noted.
St. Clairsville used its speed to make it 2-0. Nate Thornburg chased the ball down deep in Indian Creek territory. His left-foot blast along the artificial surface from left of the box trickled into the far corner in the 16th minute. Jesse Brannan logged the assist.
Six minutes later, Brannan took another beautiful cross from Schmidt and bicycle-kicked the ball past Francis from point-blank range for a 3-0 reading. The goal came on his 18th birthday.
As the rain picked up at the halftime break, it didn't slow the hosts down.
Lucas Otto headed in a corner kick from Caden Stout to make it 4-0 in the 50th minute and Luke Miller tallied his first career goal 20 minutes later for the final margin of victory.
"We've been working a lot on corner kicks and crosses. It was nice to see the hard work is finally starting to payoff," Roberts revealed. "A couple of our goals were highlight-reel goals. That was good so see.
"Overall, I think everyone played well, including our keeper," Roberts said of Shane Jackson, who stopped six of 10 shots to earn his second consecutive shutout. "He made some incredible saves that could've given them a goal or two and got them back into it."
None were any bigger than when he challenged the Redskins' Carson Copeland who had gotten behind the Red Devils defense. As Jackson charged towards Copeland, his shot deflected off of the keeper and sailed out of play. Jackson also denied a free kick by Arnaud Schatz and poked the rebound out of harm's way.
"I was really pleased with my guys in the second half. We really stepped up the pressure," Indian Creek head coach Aaron Foldi said. "We communicated better in the second half. We didn't do that in the first half, and against a team like St. Clairsville, you have to play a full 80 minutes.
"We just didn't put together a full 80 minutes tonight. We've got to continue to work at both ends."
St. Clairsville remains at home Thursday when Morgantown visits at 6.
Big Red Ties Wheeling Central
STEUBENVILLE -- The Big Red boys soccer team tied Wheeling Central Tuesday evening, 1-1.
John Sidoriak provided the Big Red goal with an assist from Matt Loot, while JP Walsh made seven saves in net.
Steubenville travels to rival Indian Creek on Monday.
GIRLS SOCCER
Park Girls Beat University
MORGANTOWN -- The Wheeling Park girls defeated University 4-0 Tuesday. Lily Hanna scored twice, along with Merritt Delk and Mia Zecca. Hanna, Delk, Lucy Aderholt and Maya Taggart all picked up assists. Josephine Kulpa and Ryleigh Hicks split time in goal for the shutout.
GOLF
St. Marys Wins Triangular
WHEELING -- St. Marys defeated John Marshall and Brooke in the rain Tuesday on the Jones Course at Speidel Golf Complex at Oglebay. The Blue Devils won with a team score of 336, followed by John Marshall's 349 and Brooke's 437. St. Marys' Brandon Lawhon shot four-over par (75) as the medalist. Ethan Cook shot 84 to lead John Marshall and Nick Cipoletti's 99 paced the Bruins.
Southern Local Tops Oak Glen
GUILFORD LAKE -- The Oak Glen golf team dropped a close match Tuesday against Southern Local at Twin Springs Golf Course, 183-187.
The match medalist was Southern's Gavin Tribelo with a 37. Oak Glen was led by a 44 from Brady Chaney.
Also for the Golden Bears, Logan Weekley finished with a 49, Seanessy Adkins a 46 and Brasinn Provenzano a 48.
Oak Glen, now 4-11 in match play on the season, is scheduled to face Buckeye Local today at Becwood Golf Course.
VOLLEYBALL
Monroe Central Vegins 2-0
BRIDGEPORT -- The invading Seminoles made quick work of Bridgeport Tuesday, posting a sweep by scores of 25-16, 25-13 and 25-12.
Abby Thompson led the Seminoles with 10 kills and two blocks. Trista Morris had six kills and 10 digs. Kynzi Bishop added six kills, nine points and two aces. Regan Hamilton posted 11 assists. Riley Bettinger had two blocks, three aces, 14 points and seven digs.
The Bulldogs were led by Kaylee Bain, who had four points, two kills and 11 digs.
Shadyside Falls to Fort Frye
SHADYSIDE -- The Tigers fell for the first time this season Tuesday evening to invading Fort Frye. The Cadets prevailed by scores ofd 25-23, 16-25, 25-23 and 25-13.
The Tigers were once again led by junior standout Gentry Brown, who recorded 15 kills, eight digs, two blocks and had an ace. Senior Paige Gorby had 10 kills, nine digs and three blocks. Caroline Mercer handed out 26 assists, had five aces, a block and a kill. Heather Good had five digs.
Martins Ferry Trips River
HANNIBAL -- Martins Ferry picked up its second win of the season inside the R.L. Potts Gymnasium with a 22-25, 25-21, 26-24 and 25-17 victory.
The Pilots were led by Rilyn Haught and Chloe Honeycutt with eight kills each. Hannah Raper added five kills. Kami Todd had 14 assists, while Kiley Wagnild had 10 digs. Raper had six digs.
Beallsville Edges Frontier
BEALLSVILLE -- The Blue Devils picked up their second win of the young season, needing four games to get past the Cougars by scores of 26-24, 23-25, 25-16 and 30-28.
Beallsville was led by Kaylee Hagan's 15 kills, 11 digs, three aces and two blocks. Kinley Hughes had 15 assists and three digs. Emily Crooks had 15 digs.