Wheeling Central’s Luke Magruder dribbles the ball across the field Wednesday during the Maroon Knights’ WVSSAC Class AA-A boys soccer semifinal vs. Frankfort.

BECKLEY – Something had to give during Thursday afternoon’s W.Va. Class AA-A boys’ soccer state semifinal. Neither Wheeling Central nor Frankfort had ever played in the state championship match.

It will be the second-seeded Maroon Knights (19-3-1) who will meet No. 1 Huntington St. Joseph (22-2) for the title on Friday at 10:30 a.m. The 19 wins are a program record.

“For the program, this is enormous,” Wheeling Central head coach Brian Komorowski said. “This is history. We’ve never been in the state championship before.”

Wheeling Central received second-half goals from junior Luke Magruder, freshman JD Schoolcraft and junior Mason Smith in earning a 3-0 win over the No. 3 Falcons (14-5-4) on the artificial pitch at the sunny, but windy YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex.

The Maroon Knights and Irish met on Sept. 20 with the Irish winning, 2-0.

“”It was a good match,” Komorowski recalled of the initial meeting. “They were up 1-0 before getting a penalty kick late. It should be another great match.”

Magruder snapped a scoreless match in the 61st minute when Grady Mullin dribbled the ball down the left wing before sending a perfect cross to the crease when Magruder one-timed it into the back of the net. It was Magruder’s 18th goal of the season and came on the Maroon Knights’ sixth shot on goal.

“Grady made an exceptional play carrying the ball deep on the left wing,” Komorowski said. “We told the kids at half to try and get the ball to the corners and someone will be there (in front of the net). That’s what we did in the second half.”

Five minutes later, Wheeling Central made it 2-0 when Schoolcraft was positioned at the back post to knock home a corner kick by Smith. It was Schoolcraft’s team-leading 19th net-finder.

Frankfort nearly scored in the 73rd minute but sophomore goalkeeper Tino Sperlazza was up to the task, denying Jesus Perdew with a diving save.

Smith’s header in the 77th minute capped the scoring. Carter Oliver logged the assist. Smith’s two-point game came despite missing more than half of the first half after being hit in the face twice in the first 16 minutes.

“We controlled the ball the entire first half. Getting the first goal was key because they (Frankfort) came out and attacked us for the first 10 minutes of the second half,” Komorowski added. “Once we got the first goal it kind of snowballed from there.”

Sperlazza stopped both shots he faced from the Falcons who entered the match with 90 goals on the season. He has only given up 11 goals this season and recorded his 15th shutout.

Frankfort’s Alyn Weaver was credited with five saves, four coming in the first half as Wheeling Central found the net three times on four shots in the second 40 minutes.