By: Jack Withrow, WVMetroNews.com
East Fairmont 3, Robert C. Byrd 2
WVSSAC AA-A Boys Soccer Championship – Carter Stadium
East Fairmont defeated Robert C. Byrd 3-2 to win the Class AA-A boys state coccer championship. The Bees scored all they needed in the first half while holding off a second half Eagles’ comeback.
Senior Lucas Toothman got the scoring started in 10th minute off a Logan Cerrullo corner kick. In the 32nd minute, Corey Fluharty drew a foul inside the box that set up a Cerrullo penalty kick and he deposited it into the right side just past a diving Ryan Collett to give East Fairmont a 2-0 lead. Just before half, Corey Fluharty finished the scoring for the Bees off an assist by Aiden Slusser.
Robert C. Byrd added two goals within the first 20 minutes of the second half from freshman Khori Miles and junior Emilio Buffey. However, East Fairmont senior goal keeper Michael Gaskill was able to stop any equalizer from the Eagles to preserve the victory.
After finishing as runner-up in 2013, this is the first state boys’ soccer title for East Fairmont as they finished the season undefeated at 21-0-4. Robert C. Byrd finished at 19-2-2.
Winfield 2, Charleston Catholic 0
WVSSAC AA-A Girls Soccer Championship – Carter Stadium
Winfield set a new WVSSAC record with its 5th consecutive state girls’ soccer title as the Generals defeated the Irish 2-0 to claim the Class AA-A girls state soccer championship.
Junior Sydney Cavender provided all the scoring the Generals would need in the first half. In the 16th minute, Cavender received a pass from senior Claire Miller and drove it past Charleston Catholic keeper Vida Imani. Cavender’s second goal came off a beautiful pass from senior Carly Miller in the 37th minute for a 2-0 halftime lead.
The Irish couldn’t get much going against a stout Generals’ defense and relentless offensive attack. Winfield had a 17-0 advantage with shots on goal as the Generals possessed the ball for most of the second half to close out the victory.
Winfield finished their season with a record of 22-2-0 while the Charleston Catholic finished 16-4-2.
University 1, George Washington 0
WVSSAC AAA Girls Soccer Championship – Cline Stadium
In a tough back and forth battle for much of the contest, Hawks’ sophomore Abigail Lewis finally broke through with the deciding goal in the 53rd minute to give University a 1-0 victory over George Washington in the Class AAA girls state soccer championship.
The Patriots had a great opportunity to tie it up late in the match as University was called for a hand ball just outside the 18-yard box. However, sophomore Riley Lohan’s free kick was blocked by Hawks’ defender Leah Marsh and the ball was cleared away.
Hawks’ defense, along with junior goal keeper Maya Shetty, held their opponents scoreless throughout the postseason to claim their third Class AAA girls’ soccer championship and finish the season 22-1-2. George Washington finished 13-4-5.
George Washington 4, University 0
WVSSAC AAA Boys Soccer Championship – Cline Stadium
George Washington blanked University 4-0 to win their 4th Class AAA boys state soccer championship and first since 2013.
Senior Josh Mabe got the scoring started in the 4th minute off an assist by Riley Stanten. The Patriots would take a 2-0 advantage as Chance Roberts found the back of the net just before the intermission.
George Washington turned in a solid defensive effort on Saturday including a tremendous save from senior goal keeper Cooper Zent off the foot of Hawks’ Collin Mocyunas late in the first half. University drew a foul inside the box and Mocyunas lined up for a penalty kick. Zent guessed correctly with a diving save to his left and then followed up with another point-blank save as Mocyunas tried to follow up the rebound.
In the second half, the Patriots added two more goals off an own goal from University keeper Matthew Brock and then in the 63rd minute, junior forward Noah Shaak provided the final score.
George Washington finished the season undefeated with a record of 20-0-1 while University finished 19-4-2.