St. Clairsville Overcomes Pesky Edison In Sectional
No. 3 Red Devils Use James Parsons’ Three Goals In 4-1 Win Over No. 11 Wildcats
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Edison punched St. Clairsville in the mouth early in Thursday's Ohio Division IV, East 2 boys' sectional tournament soccer tournament, but like a championship boxer, the Red Devils got off the artificial pitch and lived to play another day.
Sparked by three goals from James Parsons, third-seeded St. Clairsville (12-6) posted a 4-1 victory over the No. 11 Wildcats (6-10-2) on the chill-filled night.
"This was a really big game for us. It determined whether our season continued or not," Parsons said. "We came out slow but picked it up. The seniors had a lot of energy that brought us together and we played as a family and got the job done."
Edison's Noah Lucas buried a 30-yard free kick just past the one-minute mark of the match to stake the visitors to a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats had been shutout 25-0 in their last three outings, but Lucas lofted the ball over top of Red Devils goalkeeper Keenan White into the top shelf..
"Edison came out fired up and we're getting used to opponents trying to do that to us," St. Clairsville head coach Jeff Roberts said. "They got an outstanding free kick in the shooting range. It was beautiful and they deserved it. They deserved this result because they played their tails off."
The Red Devils won 9-0 just over a week ago in Richmond.
"We've played some really good teams at the end of our schedule and we had the opportunity coming in her knowing that St. Clairsville probably thought they were going to win by a big number, but we wanted to play our game and we got up by a goal early," Edison head coach Justin Wise said. "We're still a young team. This is only our second year back after a four-year absence, so I'm really pleased with the way my team responded tonight."
St. Clairsville, playing without injured senior starters Lucas Causey and Caden Blacker, nearly drew even in the 15th minute when Parsons sent the ball towards the left post, but Edison goalkeeper Xander Haught made a diving save to keep his team on top.
However, the Red Devils got the equalizer in the 24th minute as Camden Judge re-directed a direct kick from Parsons past the bewildered Haught. Positioned deep in the box, Judge raised his right leg at the last possible second to deflect the ball past the waiting goalkeeper.
St. Clairsville also scored on its next two shots to go back-to-back-to-back in taking a 3-1 lead into the half.
In the 26th minute, Parsons' throw-in from deep along the sideline was pinballed around before finding its way back to Parsons who headed it into the cage from 15 yards out for a 2-1 advantage.
"I was trying to get the ball to Trevor (Tuttle) but it came back to me," Parsons recalled. "It was my calling."
Before the fans could get settled back in their seats, the left-footed junior tickled the twine a second time. He collected the ball in the middle of the field at the top of the box before unleashing a laser that zipped along the pitch and past a diving Haught for a 3-1 reading in the 27th minute.
Trevor Tuttle was robbed by Haught on a back door tap-in early in the second half as Parsons sent a beautiful cross through a scrum of players.
Edison finally got its second shot on goal in the 65th minute as St. Clairsville's Brycen Beck, who entered the game in the eighth minute, was up to the task.
Parsons capped his outstanding performance in the 68th minute when he blasted a rocket past Haught on the Red Devils 20th shot of the match.
"James played like he was possessed tonight," Roberts said of Parsons. "He was out there communicating. He had a lot of growth this game and that was good to see. He's been slowly all year getting better at that. With Caden and Lucas out, he took it upon himself and that's why he was voted a team captain.
"I can't wait to see how he develops."
Haught finished with 18 saves. Beck had just the one.
St. Clairsville advances to the district semifinals on Tuesday - once again at Red Devil Stadium - against No. 4 Coshocton, a 6-1 winner over No. 7 Cambridge last night. The district semi begins at 6:30 p.m.