BY JOSH STROPE / The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling Park has rolled through the first half of its schedule based on its skill and precision passing. Morgantown coach Stirlin Rivers knew he had to disrupt that. And that game plan worked to perfection.
Saturday at Wheeling Island Stadium, Morgantown handed Wheeling Park its first loss of the season with a 3-1 victory, claiming the school’s first OVAC 5A championship since 2013.
“The girls were really up for it and really excited,” Rivers said. “They thought we should have at least made the final last year and the seniors wanted this badly. The effort and desire to get to the ball, win the ball, and there is not much more I can say about Sammie Brown. She took the game by the scruff and brought it home for us.
“We felt (Park’s) strengths were Gracey (Hanna) and (Faith Mealy) so we tried to stop them from even getting the passes. We started putting high pressure from the midfielders and strikers. We worked on it all week and the girls played it to perfection.”
Brown is the catalyst for Morgantown. The West Virginia Player of the Year candidate scored two goals in leading her team to victory.
“We knew what we needed to do and executed the way we know we can,” Brown said. “We had to be aware of their speed up top and just try to shut that down.
“When I get the ball, I have to remember sometimes to just go to goal and take it myself. Find the corner. I practice shooting into the corners every day at practice and I kept that in mind. It is just natural now.”
Wheeling Park couldn’t get anything going from the opening whistle. Morgantown came out attacking and didn’t allow the Patriots the space they normally work with. The Mohigans registered the first three shots on goal before finally cashing in.
Alyssa Weaver broke the scoreless tie as she headed in a corner kick from teammate Michaela August past Wheeling Park goalie Jillian Blair in the 16th minute.
Brown showed her skill in the 34th minute, putting the Mohigans up two scores. After stealing the ball from a Park midfielder at the 35-yard line, she turned on the speed, got around a Park defender and beat Blair low to the corner.
“We showed up and didn’t play our game, didn’t play like we have been playing all year,” Wheeling Park coach Carrie Hanna said.
The Morgantown momentum continued in the second half as Brown got her second goal in the 47th minute and killed any thought of a Wheeling Park comeback.
“This was the first step,” Rivers said. “We always set short-term goals and long-term goals. Our long-term goal is to win states, short term was to win OVACs, then now going to sectionals. We have some tough games coming up with Hurricane and Winfield to see where we are at overall.
“I am excited. We just have to keep working and just keep enjoying this ride. They are enjoying doing the right thing and I like that.”
Wheeling Park avoided the shutout with a goal after Graceylyn Hanna’s direct kick was punched away by Morgantown keeper Jessica Jones, but into the back of one of her defenders and back into the net. A
fter suffering the first loss, Coach Hanna is interested in seeing how her team bounces back with the main goal still ahead of them, especially with a possible rematch with Morgantown lurking.
“This is going to make you or break you,” she said. “That is up to the players and the coaches’ leadership. Is this going to be something that will get us to the next level with a tough lesson to learn? Or is this going to be something that breaks our confidence? It is not about what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you.”
