photo by: Nick Henthorn

Pictured from left is Parkersburg South’s Aidan Garrett, Wheelign Park’s Aiden McCroskey, and Parkersburg South’s Ashton Garrett, during a OVAC 5A semifinals match Thursday inside Wheeling Island Stadium.

WHEELING — The Wheeling Park Patriots have won the last four OVAC 5A boys soccer championships, and after Thursday, they’ll have a chance for a five-peat.

The Patriots mercy-ruled Parkersburg South, 10-0, inside Wheeling Island Stadium in their OVAC 5A semifinals contest as Wheeling Park punched their ticket to Saturday’s conference championships, which this year will take place at St. Clairsville High School.

“Kids always want a chance to play in the championship of the OVAC,” Wheeling Park head coach Mario Julian said. “It’s a big moment in the year for them. These seniors have had some success in the OVAC, and in the championship game. In their last year, they wanted the opportunity to win another one. Now they’re getting that chance, and we’ll see how it goes.”

Wheeling Park, the top seed in 5A, will face No. 2 Steubenville, who defeated No. 3 John Marshall on Thursday night.

Seven Patriots scored on Thursday, with one Wheeling Park goal going down as an own goal by Parkersburg South, seeded fourth in 5A.

Ike Aderholt started the scoring in the fifth minute, as Wheeling Park dominated possession right from the onset. Dani Brazal Morcillo scored off of a deflected shot in the seventh minute, and JT Pockl made it three goals within three minutes, scoring in the eighth minute.

An own goal in the 15th minute made it 4-0.

Wilson Hanna rumbled down the left wing and hit a right-foot shot to the opposite post in the 20th minute to get halfway to Park’s eventual total. A nifty back-tap pass from Brazal Morcillo set up a goal from Samuel Rockey in the 25th minute.

Wheeling Park led 6-0 at the half.

Aiden McCroskey got involved in the action with a score shortly after play resumed, in the 41st minute. Hanna scored his second goal in the 43rd minute, Rocky scored his second goal in the 44th minute, despite the shot deflecting off a defender’s hip. Park subbed out several of their starters later in the second half. Noah Lloyd ended the game prematurely, in the 72nd minute, with Park’s 10th goal.

“I think we played team soccer. I mean, we passed the ball, we moved it, and we made it really difficult for them,” Julian said.

“A lot of different guys got a chance to score. A lot of different guys got assists, and it was nice being able to get as many passes as we did. I think that’s what we’re good at, is possession. And it was nice to have that work today.”

Wheeling Park had 15 shots on goal while Parkersburg South was held without a shot on goal.

“We came up against a really good team in Wheeling Park and I don’t know that our boys were completely ready to play tonight,” Parkersburg South head coach Rick George said. “Not quite sure what it was, but we started the game about half asleep and they jumped on us from the start.”

The OVAC 5A championship is set for noon Saturday. Wheeling Park, who has never known anything but conference gold since the turn of the decade, is looking to keep their streak of excellence alive and well with a well-seasoned team.

“We’ve got six, seven guys back from last year’s team that went to the state tournament,” Julian said.

“They’ve got a lot of experience. And it’s a good mix of a lot of seniors and juniors, and throw in a couple of sophomores in on it. It does make for a very experienced team and one that, they enjoy being together. They like sharing the ball and having people score goals and be successful. They like playing together.”