photo by: Kim North

Wheeling Central’s Rylee Wright (3) tries to avoid a collision with Ravenswood goalkeeper Emily Andrade during Saturday’s Class A-AA Region I girls’ soccer match against Ravenswood at the J.B. Chambers Memorial Recreation Park in East Wheeling.

WHEELING — It’s nice when a plan comes together. With a Homecoming dance set for Saturday night, members of the Wheeling Central girls’ soccer team had appointments that afternoon for hair and makeup work.

So, the top-seeded Maroon Knights (17-3-1) came out firing on all cylinders in the morning, making quick work of No. 4 Ravenswood (13-9) by a 10-0 margin in a W.Va. Class A-AA Region I semifinal on the artificial pitch at the J.B. Chambers Memorial Recreation Park 16th Street Complex.

That match was stopped at halftime due to the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission mercy rule.

Wheeling Central advances to the championship match back in East Wheeling on Tuesday against the Oak Glen-Weir winner. That time will be announced. A trip to the state tournament in Beckley will be on the line.

“The girls were really hoping to get out here early because they had some things to take care of, so it was a good opportunity to get them out early,” Wheeling Central head coach Bill Konkle said.

Wheeling Central scored on 10 of 23 shots as they continually peppered Devilettes goalkeeper Emily Andrade, who recorded 13 saves.

“We worked all week on just possessing the ball a little bit more. We played them a couple of weeks ago, so we knew they would try an off-sides trap,” Konkle explained. “We were able to work around it and find ways to get goals.”

Seneca Heller recorded her first four-goal game as she led Wheeling Central’s scoring parade. She scored a natural brace in the final three minutes of the half as the margin reached its limit.

The senior showed some nifty footwork on the final goal as she charged the net from along the end line to the left of Andrade. When the goalkeeper broke to her right, Heller nudged the ball with her foot past into the near corner.

Elah Konkle had a brace, as well as two assists. Elizabeth Steele scored two goals and helped on three others, while Maddie Steele rounded out the goal scoring. Mariah Ratcliffe, Addie Payton and Kendall Schmitt all logged assists.

Goalkeeper Bella Fitzsimmons was only called upon to make one save.

“We shared the ball very well,” Coach Konkle said. “Defensively, we stayed in tact and never allowed them any real scoring opportunities. It was a total team win.”