MHS boys soccer falls 1-0 in sectional final to Wheeling Park

WHEELING – There are times in sports – especially at the high school level – when two teams leave everything they had on the playing field, but only one can come out the winner.

Such was the case Thursday night at chilling Wheeling Island Stadium where, with a strong swing of his right leg, Wilson Hanna erased a bad memory and created an emotional celebration on the artificial surface.

The Wheeling Park junior forward sent a direct kick from 23 yards into the top left corner of the net, leading the No. 1 Patriots to a hard-fought 1-0 double-overtime victory over No. 2 Morgantown in the W .Virginia Class AAA Region I, Section I championship game. The goal came after the teams had battled toe-to-toe for 94 minutes.

Hanna was in the same situation a year ago but failed to convert. This time there was no doubt about it.

“I had the same opportunity last year and kicked the ball over the net. I felt like I let my teammates down. This time I knew exactly where I was going (with the ball) and I just buried it,” Hanna said of the game-winning goal, which sparked a wild celebration by the Patriots as several Mohigans lay heartbroken on the turf.

“When (the ball) went in, it didn’t feel real… it still doesn’t,” he admitted. “I’m absorbing all of this with my teammates. It’s amazing. It is the biggest goal of my career so far.”

The end result was not what Morgantown head coach Samuel Snyder wanted to see, but he was very appreciative of the effort his team showed.

“We wanted to show that we can play like champions. “We wanted to show that we know what it feels like to walk away with your head held high,” he said. “We did everything in our power to make that happen, but sometimes that’s football.

“Wheeling Park deserves this victory. We try to be worthy. The difference is the margins and the margins continued their way.”

With the prized victory, the Patriots (19-3) advance to the Region I semifinals next Thursday at Monarch Stadium in Moundsville against the winner of Region I, Section II.

“There’s a lot on the line this time of year and Morgantown is our rival,” Wheeling Park head coach Mario Julian said. “It’s hard to beat a team three times in the same season and they came here with a plan to beat us. They defended very well. They attacked very well, but we got the goal and that’s what counts.”

Julian said he wouldn’t want anyone but Hanna in that situation.

“Wilson practices that shot all the time. “This might be the first one he’s done all season, but it’s been close,” Julian added. “He’s hit the post a couple of times. He hit the crossbar a couple of times, but finally managed to score tonight.

“That was kind of redemption for him tonight, for sure. It was a clear, clean and beautiful hit.

Morgantown (15-3-3) saw its season end. Goalie Luke Plevich made eight saves.

“Our three losses came at Wheeling Park. “They are a good team and we took them to the end,” Snyder said.

One of the reasons Morgantown came up short was the play of Wheeling Park goalie Gavin Border, who finished with 14 saves, two notable diving attempts in the first overtime period and an early save in the second overtime session. .

“He made that save in overtime. That kid had a point-blank shot and Gavin was ready for it,” Julian said, referring to the arrest of Colin Petsko of Morgantown. “That was a great salvation. “That gave his teammates the opportunity to win and they responded with a goal for him.”

By Kim North (The Intelligencer)