Morgantown set to battle top-seeded Woodrow Wilson at 2026 boys state soccer tournament
Trending
BECKLEY – The Morgantown High School boys soccer team qualified for the 2026 state semifinals in spectacular fashion with a 3-2 victory via an improbable comeback in the Class AAAA North Region co-finals.
The fourth-seeded Mohigans will battle No. 1 Woodrow Wilson on Wednesday evening at 5:00 p.m. at the YMCA Paul Cline Youth Memorial Sports Complex in Beckley for a spot in Friday's title match.
"This group has grown together as a team this season," first-year head coach Brian Shirak said. "Individually, they've discovered who they are as players, and collectively, they've discovered who they are as a team. Our identity has really come together. Early in the season, we were still trying to figure out who we were and what kind of team we could be. Now, that's clear. We know who we are, we know what we do well, and now it's time to go out and compete."
MHS enters the contes with a 10-4-4 record and winners of four of its last six matches. The Mohigans last loss came on October 3 against Jefferson, 3-1. That's the moment in the season Shirak says was the turning point for his squad.
"I think our season and our team really changed following that loss," Shirak said. "Something clicked with this group. They came together, bought in, and committed themselves to working harder and trusting one another. Since then, they've continued to grow, and now they're getting to see the results of all the work they've put in. It's been really rewarding to watch them experience the success they've worked so hard for. It started with the leaders in our locker room. They've embraced the expectation of hard work and trusting the process, and the rest of the team has followed."
MHS will face a different type of opponent in the Flying Eagles on Wednesday, who are unbeaten in 20 matches in 2026 (18-0-2). The two draws for Beckley came against the other two teams in the semifinals, Wheeling Park and Hurricane.
The Flying Eagles have scored 138 goals, allowing just 22 this season. Senior Ali Farghaly leads the way with 44 goals adding 13 assists. Fellow senior Hagen Hall has netted 33 goals and provided 17 assists.
MHS is lead by senior Anthony Vessecchia with 17 goals.
"Woodrow has 11 very good soccer players who have played together for years, both at the high school and club levels," Shirak said. "There's a familiarity and chemistry within their group that is difficult to replicate. They understand each other, they play well together, and they have a tremendous soccer culture. They've been one of the best teams in the state for the past few years, and they've earned that reputation. We'll have to be prepared for a tremendous challenge."
To meet that challenge and succeed, Shirak says MHS needs to continue doing their jobs and avoid getting caught up in the moment.
"We need to focus on the controllables, trust each other, and play the way we've prepared to play," he said. "If everyone fulfills their role and gives their all, I believe they'll be successful regardless of the scoreboard outcome. I'm incredibly proud of this group. It's an honor to be their coach, and I'm grateful I've gotten to go along for this ride with them."
MHS and Beckley will square off at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.