BECKLEY, W.Va. — The Wheeling Central Catholic girls soccer team captured the program’s first state championship in 2025.
The Maroon Knights clearly weren’t satisfied.
In a rematch of last year’s title game, Wheeling Central again got the better of Lincoln, this time utilizing a pair of goals from standout junior Loni Kusic to top the Cougars, 2-0, on Saturday in the Class AA-A final at Carter Stadium at Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex.
Kusic changed the complexion of the match by scoring her 44th goal this season 2:19 into it. The early goal was assisted by Elah Konkle.
“All season long we’ve tried to get out to an early lead. If we don’t, and the opponent scores first, then they can kind of pack it into the box,” Maroon Knights’ coach Bill Konkle said. “We’re always trying to get that. When we got it today, it made everybody more relaxed and calmer. It got some of the nervous energy out of the system early.”
While Central (20-4) registered three of four shots on goal between the two teams in the opening half, the Cougars (18-4) didn’t back down after the early deficit and went to halftime trailing 1-0.
“They got loose early, which was a bit unfortunate, but we stayed the course,” LHS coach Ryan Gump said.
The score stood that way until Kusic added to her single-season school record goal tally by notching No. 45 on a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that beat Lincoln goalkeeper Isabella Eddy to make it 2-0 with 7:31 remaining.
“She had a great season this year and scored a lot of goals,” coach Konkle said. “The chemistry our midfield has together and the amount of passing and assists, and the way they move the ball is really special. She had two really nice goals today and it’s kind of fitting she ended the season on a strong note.”
Forced to be more offensive-minded in the latter stages, that left the Cougars more vulnerable when Central got forward.
“We tried to push late in the second half to get an equalizer, but they’re extremely good,” Gump said. “They play down the middle very quickly. We did a great job limiting their chances. They didn’t have many shots on goal. Hats off to our girls. They played a tough game. Unfortunately not the ending they wanted, but they know they were in the game today and it was great to see us battle that way.”
Eddy finished with two saves and LHS finished with two shots on goal, both of which were stopped by Maroon Knights’ keeper Bella Fitzsimmons, whose backline aided her cause in the clean sheet.
“Our defense is unbelievable. They work really hard,” coach Konkle said. “Over the full season, they’ve connected. They communicate well. That was the 51st career shutout for our goalie. We didn’t give up too many goals this year. The defense takes a lot of pride in that.”
Wheeling Central topped Lincoln, 3-1, in the 2025 final.
“I’ve told them pretty much all week, but especially today, not many kids get to experience playing in this game. Getting to do it two years in a row for some is huge,” Gump said. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but down the road, they’re going to look back on this and realize how awesome of an experience it was to play in the state championship game two years in a row.“