BECKLEY — On their way to an 18-1-1 record on the season, the top-ranked MHS girls soccer team set its sights on the state tournament, which begins at 5 p.m. today at the Paul Cline Youth Memorial Complex in Beckley.
The Mohigans will matchup with the no. 4-seeded Hedgesville Eagles who come into the contest with an impressive record of their own at 14-2-3.
Morgantown coach Stirling Rivers says his team is prepared for the moment but asks them to always focus on what’s in front of them first and let the game come to them.
“I think the girls just need to keep focused on the task at hand,” Rivers said. “Respect the opponents because they have also done well to get to this stage. We need to remember our identity as a team and everyone must trust their teammates.”
The Eagles enter the semifinal after tallying 60 total goals on the year thus far, while only allowing 11 to their opponents. Their defense will face its toughest test yet on Friday though, as the high-powered offense of Morgantown aims to leave no doubt in the results of each victory.
The Mohigans have netted a whopping 84 goals this season, including hitting double digits twice (10 and 11).
“I think Hedgesville is going to do whatever it takes to win the game without a doubt,” Rivers previewed. “Our girls just need to be mentally, physically and emotionally prepared for this game. I want them to embrace this moment. Playing in the State Tournament, the Final Four, what a great opportunity for the girl to prove themselves this weekend.”
Led by junior midfielder Gracie Brown, the Mohigans have meticulously picked apart their opponents for a dangerous all-around attack that has led them to near-perfection. Brown has scored 22 goals on the year while also providing 16 assists to the likes of senior striker Emily Carpenter (12 goals) and 14 other players who all scored at least once on the year.
One advantage the Mohigans have that helps in an environment like the state tournament is the ability of senior goalkeeper Madysen Scheller with the ball at her feet. Everyone knows a goalie uses their hands, but Scheller is as skilled with the ball at her feet as any of her teammates and that allows an added element for her defense to relieve some pressure from opponents when needed.
“Madysen is the calming presence on this team,” Rivers explained. “Our players know that they can use her to slow the game down and control the speed of play. She is a major piece of the puzzle for the way we play and we couldn’t achieve our style without her.”
The other class AAA semifinal will include two opponents MHS faced in the regular season in George Washington and Parkersburg South. In fact, GW is the only loss in the column for the Mohigans this year after the Patriots scored two late goals to steal a victory back in September.
Rivers says while his players certainly want revenge, it’s about the next game and what’s in front of them, just as it has been all year.
“As we did all season myself and Coach Mellie always tell our players to play one game at a time. No need to worry or think about two games,” Rivers said. “We deal with what is in front of us first and perform to the best of our ability. Complete focus for the game at hand, which is against a good strong team in Hedgesville. We have to earn the right the play in the state final.”
Earning a trip to that final would give the senior class a chance to repeat their state title from 2019, something Rivers says would be the “perfect ending to a career.”
“This year we have nine seniors, with eight of them being from the state championship team in 2019 as freshmen. Now as a senior, this would be the perfect ending to a high school soccer career.”
The semifinals begin at 5 p.m. tonight with the winners advancing to the championship on Saturday afternoon. The championship game will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of the boys class AAA final which begins at 10:30 a.m.
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