WOODSFIELD — Isaac Knowlton had no idea he was on pace to set a new state record for goals scored in a season. However, once he was informed, he was on a Seminole on a mission.

Mission complete.

Knowlton capped the regular season Saturday with a 4-goal performance in Monroe Central’s 5-2 nod over visiting Parkersburg Catholic. That gave him 70 net-finders this season.

“I found out about it halfway through the season. I had no clue I was going to do it,” he said of breaking the record of 62 set Ryan Pore of Mansfield Madison Comprehensive way back in 2001.

Knowlton actually broke the record earlier in the week in a 5-1 loss at Edison.

“It still felt pretty good to know I had the record all by myself, but it would’ve been a little nicer if it had come in a win,” he said.

He exploded for a career-best nine tallies in a win against Tyler Consolidated this season. That ties him with four others and is two behind the state record of 11 set in 2008 by Chardon’s Chad Johnston. Oak Harbor’s Nic Kleman had 10 in 2005.

As most good athletes do, Knowlton deflected a lot of the credit to his teammates.

“I don’t think I’ve had one or two goals that weren’t assisted on,” he allowed. “My teammates have played a big part in this record.”

Knowlton was recognized during halftime of Saturday’s contest. Monroe Central head coach Cole Minder presented him with a trophy in front of the Seminole soccer faithful and his teammates.

“It’s been great to coach Cole for all four years. It’s been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop into the soccer player that he has become,” Minder said. “It’s an amazing accomplishment to score that many goals in a season. Hopefully, his record stands for awhile.”

Minder said Knowlton’s experience is what makes him as good as he is.

“Being a senior he is playing with a lot more confidence this season. I told him to just go for it and don’t hold anything back.”

As far as his teammates, Minder couldn’t be any prouder of this bunch.

“We’ve had a lot of people buy in on him getting the record. They know that passing him the ball only helps the team because he can finish so well. It’s really been a team effort.”

Although Knowlton has set the new standard, he might be the best kept secret in the Ohio Valley.

“I haven’t received any letters or phone calls from colleges, but they will probably start coming in once people find out about the record,” Knowlton explained. “I’ve never been to a (soccer) camp or anything like that.”

He got his start in soccer at the tender age of six. He’s been playing ever since.

“I really didn’t like any other sports,” he admitted.

Knowlton becomes the second Seminole in the state record book as he joins former goalkeeper Brad Eby who made 424 saves in a game in 2006. Eby also stopped 38 shots in a game against Steubenville in 2005 that ranks 15th all-time.

No one was for sure how many career goals Knowlton has, but it is more than 120, he said.

Former St. Clairsville standout Jaclyn Dutton still holds the state record for goals scored in a game when she found the net 13 times in 2009 at Magnolia. She is also the state leader in career goals with 192 from 2006-09.

Behind Knowlton’s scoring, Monroe Central has set a school record for wins in a season with 12.