Eagles Lose In Sectional Finale, 2-0
The Magnolia Blue Eagles ended the 2014 boys’ soccer season in the WVSSAC Region I, Section I Sectional Championship to the Weir Red Riders Oct. 25 by the score of 2-0 on a pair of penalty shots.
Magnolia – in their first sectional championship in a long time – played toe-to-toe against the Riders in one of their best defensive matches of the season. However, they missed opportunities and incurred infractions that gave the Riders the win.
With neither team putting the ball in the back of the net, midway through the second half the Riders got the break they needed. After making a save, Magnolia’s keeper, Frankie Grilli, punted. But one of the referees saw Grilli outside the box a bit and called a foul. That gave Weirton an indirect kick just outside the box that would bounce off the outside post and into the net for the score.
“Our boys did a great job,” said MHS Head Coach Mike Wolf. “We were in the game pretty much the whole night and the boys never gave up. That’s what i’m proud of most. That penalty kick, I believe our guy never stepped out, but the refs saw it differently.
“Our kids did a good job, I’m just sad that the refs had to change the game a little bit. It was a great game until that point. I’m just disappointed that had to happen and disturb the momentum of the game. It was the worst-called game I ever saw in my life and I’m going to write them up for it.”
The Blue Eagles will lose seven seniors to graduation, while returning 15, including its second leading scorer, Alex Anderson, and a host of outstanding freshmen. Also returning will be assist leader Aaron Scheibelhood. However, the Blue Eagles will lose the all-time second leading scorer in West Virginia boys’ soccer history, Oscar Celedon, who had 115 goals in his four-year Magnolia career. The Eagles will also lose Grilli, Tyler Akers, Jacob Pancake, Zachary Pritchard, Dyan Shimp and the heart and sole of their defense, Soren Shade.
“We lose a lot of good players to graduation, but we do bring back the majority of our defense and a lot of experience players. I’m excited about that.” said Wolf.