Photo by Kim North Linsly’s Stefan Mihajlovic, left, dribbles the ball up field Tuesday as Magnolia’s Tyler Rose (2) defends during an OVAC Class 1A/3A boys soccer tournament semifinal match on the outdoor surface at The Highlands Sports Complex. Magnolia’s goalkeeper Aleksandr Lazarev, right, comes out to challenge the play.

WHEELING — It’s nice when a game plan comes together. It’s even better when that strategy works early and often. Top-seeded Linsly went into Tuesday night’s OVAC Class 1A/3A tournament boys soccer tournament semifinal match wanting to take control early.

Mission accomplished … and then some.

The multi-talented Cadets (13-0-1) found the net six times on their first 15 shots in taking command in the first 16 minutes of the match. They led 9-0 at the half en route to a 12-0 blanking of No. 4 Magnolia (6-4-1) on the cloudy and chill-filled outdoor artificial surface at The Highlands Sports Complex.

With the lop-sided victory, Linsly will seek its 11th championship since 1998-99 and first since the 2018-19 season on Saturday at noon on the artificial turf at Wheeling Island Stadium when it meets the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2 Trinity and No. 3 Wood County Christian.

“We wanted to come in and take care of the game in the first 10 minutes … as early as possible,” Linsly head coach Greg Martin explained. “All season our team has done a great job of possessing the ball and dictating the play. We just wanted to do that tonight.”

Junior Agustin Liu got the scorefest underway when he banged home his own rebound in the second minute of play. Senior Stefan Mihajlovic, who assisted on Liu’s net-finder, recorded a natural hat trick as he scored on the Cadets’ fourth, eighth and 10th shots against Magnolia goalkeeper Aleksandr Lazarev, who deserved a better fate as he turned in numerous highlight reel saves. He finished with 21 saves.

Liu and classmates Wes Palmer and Jaime Alonso charted assists on Mihajlovic’s goals.

“This is a talented group of kids that enjoy playing the game,” Martin added. “They have a passion for the game.”

Jack Scouvart made it 5-0 in the 14th minute with an unassisted goal, while also making it 6-0 as he headed in a rebound after Lazarev denied Mihajlovic seconds before.

It became 7-0 in the 26th minute when Mihajlovic got his fourth goal off a nifty cross from Agustin Fonseca.

Hernan Bayona got the first of his two net-finders that upped the count to 8-0. It came off an assist from Palmer. Quinn McKenzie scored unassisted in the 32nd minute for a 9-0 reading at the break.

Alejandro Thomas, Cameron Neighoff and Bayona all scored goals in the second half, which was played under a running clock due to the WVSSAC 7-goal mercy rule. Palmer and Liu recorded assists.

Starting Linsly goalkeeper junior Andrew Skadra wasn’t tested in the first half at all, as the Cadets dominated in time of possession and shots on goal. Senior Arturo Ruiz was only called upon to make one save in the second half, which he easily scooped up in the 54th minute.

Ten different Cadets logged at least one point, with half-a-dozen recording multiple points. Mihajlovic led the way with four goals and a pair of helpers, while Scouvart and Bayona evenly divided four goals. Liu added a goal and two assists, and Neighoff had a goal and an assist. Palmer chipped in two helpers.

“We shared the ball really well today,” Martin said as his team logged eight assists. “The kids played well.”

Magnolia head coach Ryan Yost graciously declined comment.

“I really don’t have anything to say.”