MORGANTOWN — For the primary time at school historical past, the Morgantown girls and boys soccer groups will each compete within the WVSSAC state event after qualifying out of Area 1.
The defending state champion MHS women staff and first-year head coach Brianna Frontuto defeated Buckhannon-Upshur 4-1 within the regional championship to qualify for the state event as the highest seed. No. 4 Hedgesville awaits the Mohigans within the semifinal spherical on Thursday morning.
For the boys and head coach Sam Snyder, who received their final state championship two years in the past in 2021, a 1-0 victory over College secured their Area 1 spot. The fourth-seeded MHS boys will face No. 1-seeded George Washington (18-2-1) on Thursday to kick off the night session.
Frontuto mentioned having the ability to take the staff to the state event in her first season is a testomony to the gamers.
“They’ve tailored to not solely the teaching type and magnificence of play however have additionally executed in areas past something I might start to the touch on in my first yr,” she mentioned. “Now we have a handful of women with a extremely excessive soccer IQ and that was very instrumental for me to get used to teaching in West Virginia in addition to executing the sport plan.”
The MHS women have an eye-opening 72 objective differential of their 18 video games performed this season, scoring 81 and solely permitting 9.
Seniors Emily Carpenter and 2022 Gatorade Participant of the 12 months Gracie Brown have led the Mohigans within the assault. Carpenter has a complete of 21 objectives and eight assists from her striker place whereas Brown has netted 28 objectives with 9 assists of her personal.
To not point out, Frontuto and her squad have battled low numbers for almost all of the yr, generally enjoying a full match with just one substitute participant on the bench.
“It is a staff that has confronted adversity from the second they received the title final yr,” Frontuto mentioned. “New coach, misplaced eight seniors, battled accidents and performed with practically no subs, not to mention defending the title. I feel the grit, laborious work, and want to enhance are qualities of this staff that drive the tradition and it’s unmatched.”
The MHS women and Hedgesville will kick off the day for the Class AAA soccer event on Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. on the YMCA Youth Sports activities Complicated in Beckley.
The MHS boys return to the state event for the primary time since capturing the title in 2021. Snyder and firm will enter because the four-seed however have faith of their skills and recreation plan as a tricky GW staff awaits, who the Mohigans misplaced to 1-0 beforehand this season.
“Returning to the state event is all the time a blessing as a result of it’s tough to make the ultimate 4,” Snyder mentioned. “Now we have gamers who began and contributed to the state championship two years in the past and gamers within the wings who witnessed profitable and have since dreamed of being those to exit and carry out.”
The Mohigans have scored 67 objectives this season whereas solely permitting 14 towards them. In truth, MHS hasn’t conceded a objective in four-straight matches getting into Thursday’s state semifinal.
Senior keeper Tyler Crites has 11 whole clear sheets on the season, whereas junior ahead Riley Brabson leads the assault with 19 objectives and 12 assists. Fellow attacker Alex Gonzalez-Tanon leads the staff with 14 assists of his personal.
With a mixture of expertise and starvation, Snyder says his membership is happy concerning the alternative and the place this system is headed. Additionally, that having some gamers who’ve been within the second earlier than will assist the others on the staff.
“You must take away the sensation from the motion,” he mentioned. “So, having seniors who can regulate the nerves of the others is a bonus. On one other notice, the juniors are an thrilling bunch. They’ve dreamed of this second since being a freshman. If the seniors are the backbone, then the juniors are the juice.”
The MHS boys will start the night session for Class AAA on Thursday towards top-seeded George Washington at 5:00 p.m. in Beckley.
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