Eagles Defeat Silver Knights 2-1 In WVSSAC Class-A/AA
Magnolia advanced to the State Class-A/AA Soccer Championship to be held Oct. 25 in Weirton, when Oscar Celedon’s goal broke a 1-1 tie with Tyler Consolidated Monday at sectional finals held in New Martinsville. He was assisted by Jacob Pancake.
Only 58 second into the match, Celedon scored the game’s first goal with an assist by Troy Bouchner. But the Silver Knights’ Nate Kemp quickly answered with a goal 58 seconds later to knot things up at one apiece.
Magnolia’s keeper Frankie Grilli and the Tyler keeper would each make outstanding saves three minutes apart. Grilli was kept busy with five goal attempts from Tyler, saving three, while the other two missed their marks.
Magnolia answered with two shots on goal and a Celedon direct kick off a foul, but neither shot would make it into to the net as the Tyler keeper knocked one away, with the other just a little high.
Alex Anderson rocked a shot, but the Knights’ keeper put a paw on it and knocked it away. Consolidated quickly went into full offensive mode and made six straight shots on goal. But Grilli knocked away two on nice saves to end the first half tied up at one.
In the second half, both team’s defenses rose to the challenge, with both teams making six to seven non-goalie saves apiece.
The first golden opportunity for Magnolia to score in the second half was at the 26:50 mark on a direct kick by Celedon. The shot went wide and the Knights drove down the field for a nice shot on goal, but Grilli made a nice save to keep the game knotted.
Magnolia had two more direct kicks, but the shots went astray. The Knights also had their chances with a direct kick, but the Eagle front line jumped high to knock it away.
Consolidated continued to attack, but Magnolia responded with some outstanding defense. Tempers got the best of both teams when the Knights got a yellow card. Celedon retaliated to get one himself and left the field. After a stoppage of play, both carded players returned.
Tyler had a chance for the tie, but a nice defensive stop on a direct kick by the Eagles halted a nice surge of shots at goal. Late in the game, the Knights picked up another yellow card, but cool heads prevailed and the game ended with Magnolia winning 2-1.
Both the Knights and Blue Eagles drilled 13 shots at goal, with both keepers each saving seven.
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The Magnolia Blue Eagle Boys’ Soccer Team is peaking at the right time with sectionals awaiting. In the last five matches with Wheeling Central, John Marshall, Tyler Consolidated, Edison and Williamstown, the Blue Eagles have outscored their opponents 26-4 with three shutouts and one white-wash in the five wins.
In their latest 9-0 win over Wheeling Central, Oscar Celedon scored six goals, while teammate Alex Anderson put the ball in back of the net twice. Jaret Delaney knocked one in while Frankie Grilli and Jentry Schultz pitched the shutout in the keeper position. Anderson assisted on two goals, while Tyler Akers, Soren Shade and Aaron Scheibelhood each assisted on one goal.
The Blue Eagles controlled the action throughout the contest as they peppered the Maroon Knights with 35 shots on goals, while the Grilli had to make only a half dozen saves. Schultz put his paw on one Maroon Knight shot attempt.
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Against John Marshall, Celedon scored the game’s first three goals, while Anderson, Pancake and Shade each followed goals of their own. Celedon scored the game’s last goal, while Pancake, Anderson, Delaney and Dylan Shimp each assisted on a goal.
It was all offense for the Blue, as Grilli had to make only a single save between the nets.
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Tyler Consolidated fought the good fight and scored the game’s initial goal, but Celedon followed with a hat-trick to give the Eagles a 3-1 win. Grilli made eight saves, while Anderson assisted Celedon on a second goal.
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Grilli earned his third shutout in the last four matches for the Blue Eagle booters, making three saves. Anderson and Celedon each burned the nets with a goal to help Magnolia win 2-0 over Edison.
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In another soccer thriller, Scheibelhood scored a goal and assisted on two others to lead Magnolia to a 4-3 slugfest over the Williamstown Yellowjackets.
Schelbelhood assisted on a goal by Celedon early on, then booted one in for the Eagles. He then assisted Anderson on their next goal, while Celedon assisted Anderson on the game-winner. Grilli made six saves in the match.