Ballard’s hat trick lifts University boys soccer to season-opening victory over Lewis County, 4-2
Trending
MORGANTOWN – The University High School boys soccer team opened its 2026 campaign with a 4-2 victory over visiting Lewis County on Wednesday evening at Mylan Pharmaceutical Stadium on Baker’s Ridge.
UHS junior striker Andrew Ballard netted a hat trick in the first contest of the season with a pair of goals in the first half before adding his third in the opening five minutes of the second half.
After dropping the opening three games in 2025 on the way to a 3-15 record, the Hawks tallied a mark in the win column in the opener of 2026 with a strong all-around performance.
"It definitely takes some pressure off getting that first win tonight," UHS head coach Brian Shannon said. "That allows us to play a little freer each and every game. These guys went through a tough season last year, but they battled together and grew closer as a result. They worked so hard during the offseason, and we have to continue to build ourselves as a unit."
Ballard broke the ice on Tuesday's contest in the opening ten minutes, making a run in behind the Lewis County defense before a controlled finish that found the back of the net.
Sixty seconds later, senior Braxton Shrewsberry joined Ballard on the scoresheet with a goal that doubled the UHS lead after running onto a slotted pass before tucking the ball away amongst a trio of Lewis County defenders.
The Minutemen didn't go away easily, however, as two minutes after Shrewsberry doubled the lead, Lewis County senior striker Josiah Heiney scored his team's first goal of 2026.
Not long after, Heiney earned a brace with his second from the penalty spot after a foul by the Hawks inside the 18-yard box.
The scoring fell into a drought for most of the remainder of the first half until Ballard broke through once again, calmly placing the ball into the corner of the goal for his second score of the game and giving the Hawks the lead again at 3-2 just before the break.
The junior completed his hat trick early in the second half to double the hosts’ lead, and the Hawks didn't allow Lewis County to add another goal for the rest of the contest.
"It's a relief seeing the work we put in during the offseason paying off," Ballard said. "Last season we had to really work hard for every single goal, and tonight it felt like everything came a bit easier for us."
Ballard knows he plays a huge role in the Hawks’ success in 2026 as a junior captain, having tallied 9 of the Hawks' 19 goals last season.
"Some of our guys don't have a ton of experience; we are pretty young," he said. "But whatever I can do to help my teammates on and off the field, I am willing to do it. If I see we're struggling to build possession out of the back or our midfielders need support, I want to be there for them and help us possess the ball a bit more and help create some more chances."
UHS will travel to Washington for its next match on Friday at 7:30 p.m.