MORGANTOWN — The popcorn wasn’t even completely popped at Pony Lewis Field on Monday when the Morgantown High girls’ soccer team grabbed a 3-0 lead.
Playing in the Region I, Section 1 semifinal contest against visiting Brooke, the Mohigans (15-3-1) put three goals in the back of the net in the first five and a half minutes on their way to an 8-0 victory.
“I think the girls just took that mentality and that we were going to go out there and start hard from the get-go,” MHS head coach Stirlin Rivers said.
Gracie Brown found the net in the second minute of the game as she put one past the Bruins goalkeeper in the lower right-hand corner. A minute and a half later, it was Ashleigh Weaver scoring after Brooke turned the ball over in the midfield and then Weaver added another goal with 34:41 left in the first half on an assist from Josie Johnson.
“That definitely got us down,” Brooke coach Jack Minger said. “I still think we really gave them a good game, especially in the first half.”
Morgantown scored its final goal in the first half when Arianna Borneo raced down the left sideline and found the top half of the goal from a severe angle.
“Knowing that if you lose, you are out. That meant that we had to give it our all,” Rivers said. “There’s nothing else, have to get going from the get-go. I think we did well. We did exactly what we wanted to do. For me, I can say for the first time, I wouldn’t say a perfect night – but a very comfortable night for us.”
The second half was much of the same for the Mohigans as they scored three goals in the first 11 minutes.
Chloe Ratliff scored twice in the second half, once on a penalty kick, along with two assists. Emily Carpenter also had a goal along with two assists while Railey Reeves added one goal. Johnson finished with two assists and Michaela August had one assist.
“Honestly, it could have gone a little better,” Ratliff said of Morgantown’s quick start. “We wanted to end things in the first 20 minutes. But a win is a win and we accomplished what we wanted to – so that is all we can really ask for.”
Morgantown finished with 25 shots in the contest while the Bruins (14-5-1) managed just five. Madysen Schellar had three saves in goal for the Mohigans while Frankie Neff had seven saves for Brooke and Bailey Serevicz had six.
With the win, MHS advanced to the sectional championship game which is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wheeling Park. The Patriots knocked off John Marshall 10-0 on Monday.
Morgantown has only lost three times this season with one of those losses coming at the hands of the Patriots.
“We just need to play our butt off,” Rivers said. “If we play our best soccer and they can tell me that they left everything on the field, then I am happy.”
Volleyball
Clay-Battelle 3, Notre Dame 1
Lydia Moore had six kills and six service aces to lead the Cee-Bees to a win over Notre Dame.
The set scores were 25-7, 25-22, 25-27 and 25-14.
Caitlynn Patterson also added six kills and six aces and Kendal Saul had eight assists.
Clay-Battelle (10-10) travels to Doddridge County for a tri-match at 6 p.m. Tuesday that also includes Greenbrier West.
— Story by Eric Herter
