MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– Morgantown High girls’ soccer coach Stirlin Rivers ended his first year in the head role with a loss in the Region I championship game to Wheeling Park. In his second year at the helm, his Mohigans defeated the Patriots after surmounting a 4-goal comeback to advance into the state semifinals.
The Mohigans (17-2-1) haven’t lost since Sept. 12 when Parkersburg South defeated them 3-2. Since then, MHS has relinquished just six goals –– three of which came by Wheeling Park on Saturday. In total, the Mohigans allowed just nine goals through the entire regular season
“There’s more confidence (in the backline this year),” Rivers said. “I think last year, we were playing more long balls, where this year, with the exception of one player, it’s the same backline from (2018) so that experience and knowing what I want from them, (they) are more comfortable with the ball.”
That stingy play will pay off in a different way Friday against Hurricane, which has allowed five goals through the entire season. Three of the goals against the Redskins (19-2) came from Morgantown when the Mohigans shut them out 3-0 on Oct. 12 in Hurricane. Out of that win, Morgantown picked up keys on how to shut down the Redskins again, this time with the state title game on the line.
“We just have to impose our game on Hurricane, be really aggressive,” Rivers said. “We don’t take any possession for granted and make sure we respect your opponent. It doesn’t matter who isn’t playing, it’s still 11-on-11 and anything can happen.”
MHS senior Sammie Brown and junior Anna Iquinto, the two girls who lead the team in scoring, had similar sentiments, echoing that they’re going to play “their game.”
“At the beginning of the season we had that set goal to make it to states, so now that we’re going there we’re focused on getting (those) final wins,” Brown said.
“We’re very confident we can win,” Iquinto continued, “but Hurricane is an amazing team. We need to go in there with confidence — not too much — but we’re ready for (them).”
What may not raise eyebrows immediately from Stirlin’s point about “it doesn’t matter who isn’t playing” is key for this game, because the Redskins’ leading scorer, sophomore Bailey Fisher, is out with a torn ACL. Prior to the knee injury in the Region IV title game, Fisher racked up 66 goals –– what’s believed to be a new state record, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail, surpassing the 59 goal mark set in 2012 by PikeView’s Lauren Hill –– and was on the Mohigans’ radar heading into the semifinals. Now, with the sophomore out, they’re handed a new defensive challenge –– who, and how many girls, are going to fill Fisher’s shoes?
“I think the main strength of the team is Fisher, and it’s really sad that she won’t be able to play,” Rivers said. “You come into competitions like these and want to play against the best player, so we hope she gets well soon. The girls were really sad for her.
“One of the things I worked on this week is making sure that no one gets chances against us. We have to make sure we’re solid on defense and be very disciplined in our possession. We need to protect the ball and they need to play with their teammates. (They can’t) take it on individually –– we’ve made it here playing (that way), not off individual brilliance (even though there is that within) the team.”
And from the girls’ perspective?
“It’s not going to change the way we play,” Brown said. “It’s unfortunate for them. Obviously she’s a huge impact for their team but we’re going to go in playing as if she (was on the field).”
“We have a great team chemistry that’s helped us throughout the season, and (that’s going to help) on Friday,” Iquinto said.
Regardless of how the season ends, whether with a loss or bringing home the state title, both Brown and Iquinto have to hit the turf in the offseason. Brown will be playing Division I ball for Auburn while Iquinto will regroup with her club team FC Alliance.
“My mom is a little bummed I’m not playing for her,” Brown said, laughing, when asked about her decision to play for the Tigers.
Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. in Beckley.
