Patriots Impress In 4-0 Victory Over Morgantown
Wheeling Park’s Tresz McLeod streaks down the field Tuesday during the Patriots’ meeting against rival Morgantown. McLeod scored a goal in a 4-0 win for Park.
Nick Henthorn
Wheeling Park’s Tresz McLeod streaks down the field Tuesday during the Patriots’ meeting against rival Morgantown. McLeod scored a goal in a 4-0 win for Park.
Nick Henthorn
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WHEELING - The last time Wheeling Park and Morgantown faced off, it was in a regional championship, win-or-go-home meeting, one that Morgantown won in overtime.
The latest chapter of the rivalry between the Patriots and Mohigans may have helped set up the backdrop of a future regional rematch, with Wheeling Park getting past Morgantown with ease at Wheeling Island Stadium, 4-0, in an early-season outing which may have ramifications far down the road.
"It was a good game. It's early in the season, but there was a lot on the line in this game," Wheeling Park head coach Mario Julian said. "Our section is so small with us, Brooke, Morgantown and John Marshall, a lot of years it comes down to who wins the regular season game to see who gets homefield in the playoffs.
"It means a lot in the playoffs to not have to travel. I feel good about how we got to today's result, our team played excellent, especially in the second half.
Park took a 1-0 lead into the locker rooms at halftime, but scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half to put themselves in position for a comfortable win.
"We were scrambling around a little more than I would've liked in the first half, and in the second half we just possessed the ball a lot better, attacked the wings and got some goals," Julian said.
Both goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half came from Patriot senior Wilson Hanna. Tresz McLeod and Sam Rockey each scored one goal.
Wheeling Park dominated possession throughout, save for a stretch late in the first half where Morgantown threatened the goal several times, and were often one touch away from getting quality looks.
"I think they all could've had one more," Julian said of his goal-scorers.
"They were moving the ball nicely, and it was nice to finish some in the second half. The first half, we had some good looks but just went over the bar or missed wide or whatever it was. But we looked well-prepared for this game."
Wheeling Park put eight shots on goal in the game, Morgantown had none.
The Patriots are back in action against another sectional opponent, Brooke, on Thursday at Wheeling Island Stadium.
GAME NOTE
The game was delayed twice due to transportation issues which Morgantown faced. The game started at approximatley 7:30 p.m. after an original 6 p.m. start time.