Maroon Knights Fly By Zeps, Primed For Championship Saturday
Trending
WHEELING -- Wheeling Central's OVAC 1A-3A semifinal at 16th Street Field seemed to pass by at a mile a minute-- or, more aptly, a goal a minute, as the Maroon Knights started off their outing at a breakneck pace on their way to an abbreviated 10-0 win over Shenandoah, advancing to Saturday's OVAC girls soccer championships.
The game was cut short after Loni Kusic's goal in the 45th minute triggered a mercy ruling. Wheeling Central, the top seed in the OVAC 1A-3A tournament, will now face No. 2 United on Saturday at 10 a.m. inside Wheeling Island Stadium for the title.
United defeated Columbiana in PKs after the two teams were tied 1-1 after overtime.
Wheeling Central enters the championship bout having won the last two OVAC championships in their division, beating Steubenville Catholic 7-0 last year.
"The girls get excited for the OVAC tournament, so they wanted to come out in this first game, set the tone, and hopefully make it to Saturday, which we did, so it’s going to be a good week," Wheeling Central head coach Bill Konkle said. "We'll put in a lot of practice this week before Saturday, because we have no games through the week, so. Just time to prepare for whoever we play."
United vs. Columbiana was not finished when Wheeling Central's game had ended.
In spurts Monday, the Maroon Knights were literally scoring at a pace of a goal a minute.
Kusic started the day off with a quick goal to put Central on the board, followed by a goal in the fourth minute by Elah Konkle, and a goal in the fifth minute by Elizabeth Steele.
Then, after being held off the scoreboard for a spell, Central was back at it, scoring in the 12th, 13th and 14th minute-- twice.
Kusic scored in the 12th, Konkle in the 13th, and both Steele and Kusic in the 14th.
Maddie Steele got involved in the 33rd minute for a score to send Central into halftime ahead 8-0.
Many Wheeling Central starters took a seat following the 14th minute goal, but they were back on the pitch for the start of the second half.
Elizabeth Steele tallied a goal in the 44th minute and Kusic closed out the day's demolition with a score in the 45th minute.
The dominant performance was just what Bill Konkle wanted to see.
"Last week we had a busy week," Konkle said. "We had three games in a row, so I gave them three days off to get some rest and recovery, and I thought they came out today fresh and with a lot of energy. They wanted to set the tone, which they did, and did a good job of it."