St. Clairsville Boys Can’t Overcome West Muskingum, Rain In Regional
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CAMBRIDGE - There's something about the regional soccer tournament and rain in Guernsey County that just doesn't mix well for the St. Clairsville boys program.
For the second consecutive year, the Red Devils (14-7) were two wins away from a berth in the Ohio Division IV state tournament only to see their dreams washed away on the artificial pitch at McFarland Stadium in a 3-0 loss to West Muskingum (16-2-3) Wednesday night in a soggy Region 15 semifinal.
St. Clairsville fell to River View in last season's Region 15 semifinal, also by a 3-0 margin. The Red Devils also lost to Chillicothe Unioto in the regional finals in 2021 on the old grass field behind Cambridge High School, also in inclement conditions.
"It definitely doesn't help. It seems like every year we're here, it's raining," St. Clairsville head coach Jeff Roberts said. "But both teams had to play in the conditions.
"The guys did exactly what we asked of them today. They came out and played hard and gave it their all," Roberts praised. "That's a pretty good team we played tonight. I think they will do well on Sunday."
The Tornadoes scored the only goal they would need in the fourth minute. Dyllan Farmer, the team's leading scorer, banged home a loose ball from high above the box.
The score would remain that way until the 45th minute when St. Clairsville goalkeeper Brycen Beck was called for a foul inside the box while pursuing a loose ball with a West Muskingum player.
Aiden Metz buried the penalty kick into the left side of the net as James Parsons, who had come in between the pipes, went the opposite way as the lead grew to 2-0.
Farmer would score again in the 76th minute for the final margin of victory.
St. Clairsville, which recorded four shots on goal in the first half, didn't log one in the second 40 minutes as West Muskingum clamped down the defense.
"I feel like after the season we had last year and the losses we had, as far as players go, I don't think anyone thought we'd even have a winning record, let alone advance to the regional tournament," Roberts stressed. "Even some of the guys on the team early in the season didn't know how things were going to go, but it took us a while to get going. We had great attitudes and it was an honor to coach this group. They were special."
The loss ended the superb careers of seniors Caden Blacker, Trevor Tuttle, Lucas Causey, Camden Judge, Jani Viczian, Peyton Planey and Xander Davis. They won back-to-back OVAC Class 4A championships and two Division IV district crowns.
"The painful part is this is the last time a lot of them are playing for their school," Roberts continued. "Some of them are playing in different all-star games and such, but it's tough when they gave everything they had and still came up short."
Beck finished with 13 saves.
West Muskingum advances to meet Wheelersburg Sunday at 1 p.m. at Logan High School's Chieftain Stadium.