University Downs Wheeling Park, 3-1
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WHEELING -- Sometimes a halftime adjustment isn't needed at all.
Thursday night was a prime example of that for the University boys' soccer team as it secured a 3-1 victory over Wheeling Park inside Wheeling Island Stadium in a rematch of last year's regional final that saw the Hawks collect a 1-0 triumph.
After a scoreless first half, University coach Michael Smith liked what he saw on the field and didn't want to change a thing.
"Our guys asked me 'what adjustments are we making,'" Smith said. "I said 'absolutely nothing. Just keep playing.' You could tell at the end of the first half that things were starting to go our way. The midfield was starting to open up a lot and I think our conditioning played a big part in that."
His plan worked.
University came out in the second half and scored just over a minute into the action at 1:09 on a goal from Charlie Walker, who attacked from the right side of the net to deliver the go-ahead goal.
"Being able to play the ball simply is something we worked hard on," Smith said. "We know we have a lot of individual talent. We just worked very hard at bringing that into a team concept with a group that doesn't play together all year round and right now, two games in, they are sharing the ball very well."
The Hawks tact on to that lead just over two minutes later off a corner kick from J.M. Jones, which found Stefan DeMoss who buried a shot into the right of the net for a 2-0 upperhand.
University stretched its lead to 3-0 with 16:53 remaining in the match on a penalty kick from Riley Nett that found the back of the net.
"I thought University was better than us (Thursday)," Park coach Mario Julian said. "They got a lot of the 50/50 balls, they made better passes and had more possession that we did. I felt fortunate that we were tied 0-0 at half.
"I thought we fixed a few things at halftime but giving up the two goals early in the second half, our kids put their heads down."
Park, however, finished with heart and hustle and didn't go away quietly as it cut into the lead with 10:18 left off a penalty kick from Coleman Meredith.
"It was nice to see the effort there in the last 10 minutes," Julian said. "We were taking some shots and getting a goal to build a little confidence going into the rest of the season was nice. It's early. Last year we lost the first game of the season, too. Now, we can identify our weaknesses and see what we need to improve on.
"I think our positioning in the midfield was too spread out and I thought when they had the ball, we were chasing. If we can get better positioning and we can possess the ball and wear teams down, as long as we improve on positioning and play with more desperation and urgency, we can get good and get good quick."
Dannen Foraker made 12 saves for the Patriots, while Timmy Bailey stopped six for the Hawks.
Brooke 6, Steubenville Catholic 0
WELLSBURG -- Eddie Marks turned in a hat trick and Andrew Coursin made six saves as Brooke shut out Steubenville Catholic.
Blaise Buchmelter contributed a goal and an assist, while Telmo Randazzo and Ben Ferguson each finished with a goal. Hunter Adams added two assists, while Nick Sagan and Dylan Black each added one.
GIRLS
Madonna, Linsly tie
The Madonna girls soccer team tied Linsly, 2-2, on Thursday.
Liv Bine and Angelina Spickard scored for the Blue Dons, while Isabella Pulice tallied an assist. Abby Macek made seven saves in goal.
For Linsly, Kailyn Wilson and Riley Maroney scored, while Mia Camps made a pair of saves.
Madonna hosts Tyler Consolidated for senior night on Tuesday.
VOLLEYBALL
Union Local d. St. Clairsville 25-12, 25-12, 25-18
ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Union Local remained perfect with a convincing victory against homesteading St. Clairsville.
Sophomore Torre Kildow had 13 kills, six assists and nine digs. Reagan Vinskovich had seven kills and a dig. Casey Kildow donated three kills, 18 assists and five digs. Baylee Rex added four kills and five digs.
Monroe d. River 25-13, 25-10, 25-17
HANNIBAL -- Monroe Central improved to 3-0 with a victory against River.
Abby Thompson and Haylin Hines each had nine kills for the Seminoles, while Trista Morris added five. Kynzi Bishop had seven assists, 22 points, 12 digs and eight aces. Kalista Friday had nine points, four aces and 12 digs. Regan Hamilton had 11 digs.
Edison d. Buckeye Local 25-13, 25-10, 25-13
CONNORVILLE -- Edison picked up the victory in three games.
Abby Kinyo had three kills and nine assists, wile Alexa Williams had four kills and five assists. Kassidy George added 14 digs.
Gracie Phillips had 12 points and four digs for the Wildcats. Karissa Speedy had 35 points, 10 assists, and a pair of kills. Corinne Freeman contributed seven kills and four blocks.
Oak Glen d. Weir 25-15, 25-11, 25-13
NEW MANCHESTER -- The Oak Glen volleyball team won its first game of the season, sweeping Weir.
Alayna Kranis and Ashlyn Six had six kills apiece for the Golden Bears (1-1). Makayla Zoellers tallied four kills and three blocks. Jadyn Smith assisted 16 times, while Sydney Smith added six digs and three aces.
For the Red Riders (0-1), Blaire McUmar had five kills, three assists and two digs. Leah Maley produced a kill, four digs and three blocks. Zionna Barnes had an ace, three assists, four kills and five blocks. Chesney Tice had 24 assists and three digs.
St. John d. East Richland 25-18, 20-25, 25-20, 25-19
ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- St. John Central pocketed its first win of the season, downing homestanding East Richland.
Jesika Henderson led the Fighting Irish with 17 points, eight digs and three kills. Kyla Kull delivered 14 points and five assists , Elizabeth Schnegg charted 36 digs, seven points and three assists, while Danielle Yaegel produced eight points, 10 digs and three kills for the Green.
John Marshall d. Parkersburg South 25-19, 25-17, 25-23
GLEN DALE -- Emily Griffith turned in 12 points, 18 assists and 10 digs to lead John Marshall over Parkersburg South in straight sets.
Avery Knutsen delivered 12 points and nine digs and Ryleigh Morgan added four kills and five blocks.
Paden City d. Clay-Battelle 25-7, 25-10, 25-15
PADEN CITY -- Hope Weber helped Paden City sweep Clay-Battelle with 13 kills, nine points, 10 assists and three aces.
Mallory Yeater set her teammates up well with 19 assists. She also compiled eight kills, six points and four digs.
Maggi Still added 12 points and four aces for the Wildcats.
GOLF
Linsly topples St. Clairsville
WHEELING -- Linsly shot a 158, which was 30 shots better than St. Clairsville Thursday afternoon.
The Cadets were led by Dylan Dunlevy, who shot an impressive 2-under, 34 to take medalist honors.
Barnesville wins quad at BecWood
BECWOOD -- Barnesville fired a round of 173 to win a four-team event Thursday. Also taking part were Martins Ferry (177), Bridgeport (202) and Shadyside (205).
Ferry's Luke Krol posted three consecutive birdies on five, six and seven and went on to shoot a 3-under 33 for medalist honors. Barnesville was led by Carter Wells' 40.
Harrison Central wins quad at Steubenville
STEUBENVILLE -- The Harrison Central golf team won a quad match over Steubenville, Catholic Central and Oak Glen on Thursday at Steubenville Country Club.
The Huskies finished with a team score of 174. Sam Santille led with a 36. Behind him were Aiden Sliva with a 44, Trevor Thompson 45 and Heath Clay 49.
Catholic Central finished second with a 187. Cole Tegano was the medalist, carding a 33. Brendan Schaefer shot a 41, Johnny O'Karma 45 and Jacquelyn Bensur 68.
Placing third was Oak Glen with a 222. Jacob Gittings carded a 42, Logan Weekley 52, Seanessy Adkins 55 and Garrett Wright 73.
Big Red finished fourth with a 227. Cole Antill had a 52, Bubby Reese 55, Frankie Vostatek 58 and Corryn Lahr 62.
Weir golfers fall
NEW CUMBERLAND -- The Weir golf team fell to John Marshall, 163-211, on Thursday at Woodview.
Jude Smith led the Red Riders with a 45. Jake Bostaph carded a 46, Zion Spencer 58 and Joe Bostaph 62.
John Marshall's Mason Orndorff was the medalist with a 37.
Woodview Golf Course
Par 36
John Marshall 163, Weir 211
NEW CUMBERLAND -- Mason Orndorff earned medalist honors with a card of 37 to lift John Marshall past Weir.
Matthew Douglas turned in a 39, Colton Sprowls added a 40 and Lauren Tekely supplied a 47.
Weir was led by Jude Smith's 45 and Jake Bostaph's 46.