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Crusaders get defensive in defeating Red Riders

Mike Mathison THURSDAY SOCCER — Steubenville Catholic Central junior Mark Kissinger looks to clear the ball during the second half of Thursday’s 1-0 over Weir High.

STEUBENVILLE — The Steubenville Catholic Central boys soccer team has five seniors.

“We’re a little bit younger, but we have some experience on this team,” veteran Crusaders head coach Steve Kopcha said. “In order for us to be a better team, we have to go through these situations. But, we had fun out there and our defense didn’t panic.”

The situation was withstanding a second half in which Weir High possessed the ball the majority of time.

“Weir is a great team,” Kopcha said. “We were forced to play defense because they did a tremendous job of possessing the ball.”

Junior Mikey Irvin found the back of the net off an assist by freshman Tom Beigel and Catholic Central made it hold up in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over the visiting Red Riders.

The Crusaders’ defense allowed few Red Riders opportunities as goalkeeper Austin Fowkes finished with six saves.

“The possession part is good for us, we can’t complain about that,” Weir head coach Jim Luevano said. “We’re struggling with finishing those possessions. Against Grafton we possessed the ball a bunch, but we had a hard time scoring (in a 5-1 loss).

“We’re going to keep switching guys around trying to figure something out.”

Central figured something out late in the first half.

“We were able to possess the ball long enough to break down their defense one time in the first half and that was the game,” Kopcha said. “Our defense did a good job of keeping Weir’s offense on the outside. Our mentality is to not break and that’s what happened today. Our keeper made saves when we needed him to make saves.

“Our defense did a great job of hanging in against all of their pressure.

The Red Riders are 1-2 and Luevano and the coaching staff are looking for answers.

“We are kind of young this year and trying to fill a couple of spots, but it’s not working out right now,” he said. “We have to have some young guys step up to the plate and start playing aggressive soccer wherever we put them, whether it’s at striker out outside-mid.

“It’s hard to work the ball around when the touch is a little bit off, or the passing lanes are a little bit off.

“Steve always has a really good team and it’s always a good game, we just have to find ways to finish. We hate to control that much of the game and not be able to put the ball in the net.

“It’s frustrating, but we’ll work through it and we’ll be fine.”

Brett Hinchee made five saves for the Red Riders.

Weir welcomes Fairmont Senior Saturday at noon.

Catholic Central visits John Marshall Tuesday.

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