MORGANTOWN – Inspiration can come at the most unexpected times.
The University High School girls’ soccer team was inspired from an unlikely source on Saturday on its way to a 6-0 win over Steubenville (Oh.) from an unlikely source.
Senior Elyse Thomas, who had never scored a goal in her entire soccer career, popped a header over the Big Reds’ goalkeeper to help the Hawks take a 1-0 lead after a rough first 32 minutes of play.
“I was frustrated with the way we were playing,” UHS head coach Graham Peace said. “We had really tough games on the road this week, it’s hot out here, so I am not surprised the kids didn’t come out quite as energetic as we wanted them to.”
Peace turned to Thomas, and several other subs, and that decision turned out to be just the catalyst to propel the Hawks (2-2-1) to the victory.
“I really didn’t know if it was going to go in,” Thomas said of the cross off the foot of Gracie Oleksa. “I was just so happy. I wasn’t sure how much playing time I was going to get or how long I’d be able to stay in the game. But I’m so happy I got to do something with the time that I was in.”
Thomas, who has been playing since she was in fourth or fifth grade, was able to get the top of her head on the pass from Oleska who muscled her way through the Big Red defense.
“I think finally having something on the scoreboard really pushed us and gave us all motivation,” Thomas said.
Thomas’ goal, and stern talking to from Peace at halftime, proved to be enough for the Hawks in the second half as they scored five more goals.
The first goal in the second half came 18 minutes in when midfielder Auriana Kiana was able to put a through ball into the lower left corner. UHS wasted little time to score its third goal when freshman Avery Alexander scored off a corner kick from junior Montana Johannsen.
UHS finished with nine corner kicks in the contest and 20 shots, compared to just four shots from Steubenville.
Johannsen, who was one of the top scorers for UHS last season, has moved to her more natural back line this year and helped the Hawks keep a clean sheet along with goalkeeper Emily Monti who finished with four saves in the shutout.
“I really like playing defense,” Johannsen, who finished with two assists, said. “I feel most comfortable there and I feel like it suits my playing style a lot more.”
The Hawks scored three more goals in the final eight minutes of play. Johannsen helped on the first one as she played a nifty through ball off a free kick that found sophomore Emerson Cunningham who was able to put the ball in the back of the net.
Junior Ryleigh Tennant scored the final two goals of the contest. She scored the first goal off an assist by Anna McBee who was able to dribble through traffic down the right side before passing to Tennant. The final goal came when Tennant collected a loose ball and fired a shot past the Steubenville keeper.
“We had a long talk at halftime,” Peace, in his 10th season with UHS, said. “I think that got the girls more focused and they realized that you can’t just not give it our all from the opening whistle. We are still a young team, so they’ve got a lot to learn, and I think in the second half they demonstrated that they’ve learned a lesson and they need to come out ready to go.”
Steubenville finished with just four shots on goal while Big Red goalkeeper Mady Thacker finished with eight saves.
University returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts perennial power Wheeling Park at 5:45 p.m.
By ERIC HERTER
