photo by: Kim North

Union Local’s Mason Fowkes (1) controls the ball as Harrison Central’s Andrew Mattern (24) defends during early action in Monday night’s OVAC Class 4A boys’ soccer tournament match in Morristown.

MORRISTOWN – Mother Nature was the big winner Monday night as the OVAC Soccer Tournament saw several matches either postponed or cut short due to inclement weather.

In boys Class 4A quarterfinal action at Jets Stadium, No. 3 Union Local and No. 6 Harrison Central were deadlocked at one late in the 16th minute when nearby lightning strikes forced both teams into the adjacent locker room facility and left fans scrambling to their respective cars.

Following numerous lightning strikes, the match was suspended and tentatively re-scheduled for Tuesday at 4:45 p.m., pending the availability of referees.

Sophomore Dominic Crum scored the Union Local goal in the sixth action off a cross from Ian Thornton.

The Huskies tied the count less than 10 minutes later when Cooper Thompson headed the ball into the net.

In the other boys 4A quarterfinal, No. 4 Linsly blanked No. 5 Weir, 5-0, on the outdoor field at The Highlands Sports Complex.

On the girls’ side of Class 4A, No. 6 Linsly vs. No. 3 St. Clairsville was also postponed. The Red Devils and Cadets are tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Red Devil Stadium.

The OVAC soccer championships, both boys and girls, are set to be played throughout Saturday, with the boys championship games slated for St. Clairsville’s Red Devil Stadium, and the girls championship games slated for Wheeling Island Stadium.

In the girls’ other 4A quarterfinal, Weir defeated Oak Glen 1-0 in a weather-shortened affair shortened game which ended prematurely after two separate weather delays.