St. Clairsville’s State Berth Bid Halted By Worthington Christian
Red Devils Finish Season With Program-Record 19 Victories
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ZANESVILLE - It was deja vu Saturday at the West Muskingum High School Sports Stadium. Unfortunately for St. Clairsville, it was the same result.
The Red Devils (19-3) saw their magical season come to an abrupt halt under gray skies in Muskingum County in a 1-0 loss to Worthington Christian (15-1-5) in the Ohio Division IV, Region 14 championship game.
"It's unfortunate that the (winning) goal came on a penalty kick, but it is what it is," Stoner said. "A game like this decided with a penalty is unfortunate. We feel like we should be in overtime right now."
"The girls played their hearts out," he stressed. "We're good enough to advance (to the state tournament), but we just couldn't do that today."
The lone goal of the tightly contested match came in the 35th minute off a penalty kick by the Warriors' Mari Lehman. It was ruled that St. Clairsville committed a foul inside the box, which Stoner didn't necessarily agree with.
"The girls battled the entire match," Stoner added. "Worthington Christian is a really good team and we held them to zero goals without the penalty kick. It's unfortunate that it has to end that way on that type of call."
Lehman fired the ball along the artificial pitch and just inside the right post and past a diving St. Clairsville senior goalkeeper Kiya Kyer.
St. Clairsville only had two shots on goal during the 80 minutes, both coming in the first half. A blast from the top of the box was denied by Worthington Christian goalkeeper Bright Ashu, but the rebound came to Shekinah Palmer. However, the freshman just couldn't get her foot on the ball.
Kyer, who holds career records for wins, saves and shutouts, finished with a dozen saves, her best coming in the 55th minute when she leaped fully extended to her right in punching a shot away with two hands.
The loss ended the high school careers of eight seniors, with seven being with the program for four years and collecting 50 career victories. They included, in addition to Kyer, Ashlynn Lednik, Emma Gasber, Isabelle Morgan, Kaylee Shafer, Isabella Cunningham, Abby Brocklehurst and Addie Mobley.
"Fifty wins is the most ever by a group of seniors. We've got eight of them, Addie Mobley, just joining us this year, but she was a big part of our team and a starter from day one," Stoner said. "They've put in a lot of work and are great human beings in addition to being great players."
The seniors made two regional championship games, won an OVAC championship and three Buckeye 8 championships.
"They have a lot to be proud of."
Although those eight will be greatly missed, there is a good nucleus returning next year that saw valuable playing time this season.
"The cupboard isn't bare by far," Stoner noted. "We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores who played quite a bit."
Worthington Chtistian advances to the state semifinals on Tuesday at 7 p.m. where they will meet Findlay Liberty-Benton on Ohio Health Field at Harding Stadium in Marion.