Morgantown boys soccer falls to Beckley in state semifinals, 7-0
Trending
BECKLEY – Woodrow Wilson showed why it entered the Class AAAA state tournament as the top seed, overwhelming No. 4 Morgantown High 7-0 in the semifinals on Wednesday in Beckley.
The Flying Eagles wasted little time taking control, scoring three goals in the opening 10 minutes to put Morgantown on its heels.
In the seventh minute, Hagen Hall sent a long switch to Ali Farghaly, who beat a Morgantown defender down the goal line before finishing to give Woodrow Wilson a 1-0 lead. Farghaly struck again just a minute later, finding the back of the net from inside the box to double the advantage.
Woodrow Wilson made it 3-0 in the 10th minute when Kasey Johnson worked through multiple MHS defenders before drilling a shot into the back left corner.
The Mohigans had a chance to build momentum in the 14th minute when a shot was deflected into a dangerous area, but Flying Eagles goalkeeper Lincoln Cavanaugh made the save.
Farghaly completed his hat trick in the 22nd minute, heading home a free kick from Hall. The two connected again in the 29th minute.
MHS managed to find some possession as the opening half progressed, but Woodrow Wilson controlled the pace and dictated play throughout.
The Flying Eagles continued their offensive pressure after halftime, scoring twice more before the final whistle.
Despite the result, the Mohigans put together a successful season under first-year head coach Brian Shirak, earning the No. 4 seed in Class AAAA and finishing with a 10-5-4 record.
MHS showed their ability to compete with some of the state’s top programs down the stretch, picking up postseason victories over Jefferson (2-1) and Martinsburg (3-2) to earn their trip to Beckley.
Senior Anthony Vessecchia led the way offensively, finishing with 17 goals and 36 points.
However, the Mohigans also featured several younger players who should provide a foundation for the program moving forward.
Sophomores Flynt Veselka and Nuh Firegoun and freshman Jackson Slavey were among the younger contributors, while sophomore goalkeeper Guizeppie Thorn gained valuable experience throughout the season.
With a first-year coaching staff and a young core gaining postseason experience, Morgantown has several pieces to build around heading into next season.