Morgantown Nets Four Goals In Second Half to Stun Wheeling Park Girls
Morgantown Nets Four Goals In Second Half to Stun Patriots
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WHEELING -- There is something about a 2-0 lead in soccer.
Sometimes it can be too much to overcome. Sometimes it lights the perfect fire needed to play your best.
Wheeling Park was the owner of that 2-0 lead heading into halftime of a W.Va. Class AAA Region One Final on Saturday at Wheeling Island Stadium. And unfortunately for the Patriots, Morgantown was an example of the latter.
The Mohigans scored three goals in seven minutes, tacked on another and then hung on to knock off Wheeling Park, 4-3, and earn a spot in next week's state tournament in Beckley.
"We had played this team twice, we tied the first game and won the second game convincingly," Morgantown coach Stirlin Rivers said.
"These ladies, I tell them I have more confidence in them than they have in themselves. We had the ability to do something like this in one half.
"We have the players and it was such a joy. I didn't really have to motivate them because they were so upset with themselves, thinking we gave away that second one.
"They were already fired up.
"They showed energy, fight, desire and passion and were able to score four goals in one half against a great Wheeling Park team."
Wheeling Park had its way with most teams this season -- except Morgantown (17-2-1).
The Patriots (17-2-3) suffered their lone loss, a 3-1 setback, to the Mohigans in the OVAC Class 5A title game.
Early on, it looked like Wheeling Park was going to exorcise its Morgantown demon.
Abbey Anderson played one of her best games in a Patriots uniform and her reactions and the excitement on her face told the story.
She broke a scoreless tie in the 29th minute as she deflected a Graceylyn Hanna corner kick into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Exactly six minutes later, she doubled the lead, stole the ball from a Morgantown defender and slipped it past Mohigans goalie Jessica Jones as her teammates stormed her.
The excited Patriots entered the locker room on a high and came out looking like a confident bunch.
But Morgantown had other ideas.
"This one is really tough, especially for this senior group," Wheeling Park coach Carrie Hanna said. "We really thought we could get the fairy tale ending, especially going into the locker room with a 2-0 lead, even though a 2-0 lead at any level of soccer is a dangerous lead,
"I thought we came out second half ready to take the game, but a couple of those opportunities didn't fall and Morgantown got life."
That life started by none other than Sammie Brown.
Brown's laser of a free kick took a tricky hop on Wheeling Park goalie Jillian Blair, who was able to block the shot, but the rebound came to Anna Iquinto to cut the lead in half.
Five minutes later, it was Iquinto again and the Mohigans were back in business.
Then it was Brown's turn. Her shot from 20 yards out went high and off the bottom of the crossbar, just above Blair's outstretched hands and momentum had turned sharply in the favor of the Mohigans.
"We felt like this was how we wanted to start but they got that goal on the rebound and we froze," Carrie Hanna said. "You can't do that in a game, and when we froze, we froze again and it kept happening until we were able to get that goal and were able to look confident and comfortable again, but by then it was too late."
Morgantown's Alyssa Weaver deflected in a corner kick in the 62nd minute for an insurance goal at 4-2. It was needed.
An Emma Delk shot of the crossbar got Jones out of position and Faith Mealy headed the ball into the empty net with 7:40 to play to give Park life.
But despite two corner kicks in the last 1:30, the Morgantown defense was able to clear the ball away and earn a trip to Beckley.
"We had them on their heels and we were able to get aggressive and I am so proud of them," Rivers said. "They took over. We were able to play the best teams in the state so we were prepared fully for this. We have a chance and we know it.
"I was getting nervous, but the girls didn't panic. We had better clearances and taking the ball to the corner. It was wonderful."