BECKLEY, W.Va. — Huntington St. Joseph’s boys soccer coach Nick Turner felt his team would be able to generate its fair share of chances Saturday afternoon in the Class AA-A title game against Frankfort at Carter Stadium at Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex.
Fortunately for Turner and the Irish alike, Caleb Clark was able to take full advantage of one early.
Clark scored on a shot from distance 8:46 into the match, and the Irish made the early lead hold up in a 1-0 win over the Falcons that gives St. Joseph a second straight state championship.
“Frankfort played a heck of a game and they made it hard on us. We knew we were going to get some opportunities today. Credit to Caleb for that finish,” Turner said. “I was hoping we could finish some of the easier ones and open the game up more, but credit to Frankfort for making some things hard on us. Scoring that first goal definitely settles you down a little bit. They then have to open up a bit more and try to attack.”
Frankfort coach Jason Vaughan felt Clark’s goal was more about a well-placed and well-timed shot than anything the Falcons did wrong.
“The numbers tell you if you go down a goal early, it’s really going to be an uphill battle, especially when you get to this level and you’re playing against a team of this caliber,” Vaughan said. “You know you have to get them up for the first whistle and I thought we were. It was just a really good shot from outside. We knew they were able to do that and we didn’t quite get to it and defend it quickly enough.”
The Irish controlled much of the match and generated numerous other scoring chances, but Frankfort goalkeeper Jesus Perdew was up for the challenge and made seven saves.
In turn, that allowed the Falcons to spend the final 71-plus minutes of the match well within striking distance, but they struggled to get forward and finished with one shot on goal, which Irish keeper Sterling Carroll stopped.
The St. Joseph midfield and defense made Carroll’s job much easier.
“It’s a senior-laden back four,” Turner said. “They have the energy and tenacity. They understand the game and that’s what happens with an experienced group. They’ve been in these moments before.”
One year after defeating Wheeling Central Catholic, 4-0, to win the Class AA-A title, the Irish (21-1-2) left no doubt who deserved to finish on top again.
“We talked all offseason about working hard to get back here,” Turner said. “We have a group of 10 seniors that were all on this team last year and they know what it takes to get here. They weren’t complacent. They were urgent from the start. They could’ve easily gone through the motions, but they really wanted to taste that victory again. Once you taste it, you want it again. I’m very proud of them for battling through what I think was the toughest schedule in our class. Guys were all about team success and they’re very selfless. They’ve been together since they were young. It’s a special group and we’re going to miss them next year.”
As for Frankfort, its storybook season ends with a 19-2-2 record.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever see a group of boys so talented and gifted to ever come through Frankfort again,” Vaughan said. “I did my best to teach them the game and did my best to teach them how to play with respect, honor and integrity. I tried to teach them how to work and these boys came out with skill, dedication and a willingness to put everything on the line. Those things helped us advance soccer in Mineral County.”