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Big Red boys advance with 2-0 sectional win over St. Clairsville

MAKING MOVES — Steubenville’s Justice Jett maneuvers with the ball around St. Clairsville’s Lucas Otto during Tuesday’s sectional match at Harding Stadium. (Photo by Andrew Grimm)

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville boys soccer coach Greg Bowers knew Tuesday’s Division II, East District sectional match with St. Clairsville was going to be tight. The teams had battled to a tie earlier this year in a regular- season meeting, and have had some battles in recent years.

After neither team scored in the first 40 minutes, No. 11 seed Big Red got the pivotal first goal before adding some insurance to edge the No. 12 seed Red Devils 2-0 at Harding Stadium and stay alive to play another day.

“St. Clairsville and we have played this game many times,” Bowers said. “Fortunately, we had the home-field advantage and our kids came out fired up and did the work. Hopefully this one gives us some confidence going into our next one.”

Justice Jett netted a rebound goal after St. Clairsville (5-6-5) goalkeeper Ryan Davenport denied Dalan Livingston in close to break the scoreless tie 11:45 into the second half, and Steubenville (4-8-5) never looked back.

“We were confident after the way we played in the first half,” Bowers said. “That is the best we have played in a while. The boys came out and played hard. In the second half, we knew we could wear them out a little bit. We connected on a couple of nice goals.

“It has been a while but it feels nice to get one.”

Both teams knew the importance of getting the first goal, as evidenced by the celebration that followed it — which resulted in Jett and Big Red goalkeeper Jacob Clevenger each getting yellow cards. It did not cost Big Red anything as both were able to rejoin the game shortly after at the first chance for substitutions, and Steubenville controlled the ball most of the time elapsed in between.

Bowers agreed with the call, but at the same time liked the enthusiasm.

“For Justice, that was his first goal ever in soccer,” Bowers said. “Obviously he was a little more emotional because of that, and on top of that with the fact that he scored his first goal in a tournament game.

“We have had a long time of struggles for almost three or four weeks now, so we definitely like to see the passion. This one feels a little different.”

St. Clairsville came inches away from tying the game about four minutes later when Zachary Orzolek maneuvered around Steubenville defenders and let a quality shot go, but it clanged off the crossbar and bounced away from the goal.

“We have had some trouble scoring goals all year,” St. Clairsville coach Gary Watt said. “We knew that we had to keep it close, play some solid defense and cash in on the chances that we had. It just didn’t work out. They finished on a couple and we didn’t take advantage of a couple. They are going on and we are going home.”

Not much after that, Steubenville doubled the lead.

Theo Loot snuck through a group of bodies and made it a 2-0 Big Red lead with 17:38 to play with an assist from John Sidoriak, giving Steubenville more than enough to advance.

Big Red finished with 22 shot attempts to the Red Devils 13. Davenport gave St. Clairsville every opportunity to hang around, finishing with 11 saves. He denied Noah Reinacher early in the second half while the game was still scoreless for perhaps his best save of the evening. Clevenger made six saves to preserve the shutout for Steubenville.

For Watt, it was a tough way to see the season — and careers for his seniors — end.

“It’s always tough,” Watt said. “This was a great senior class. They have been solid for us all along and a class group of guys. We are going to miss them.”

With the win, Big Red advances to play at Warsaw River View at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The top-seeded Black Bears defeated Duncan Falls Philo 12-1 on Tuesday night to advance.

“Right now, you have to survive and advance,” Bowers said. “We have River View next and we scrimmaged them early in the season. We know what kind of soccer we can play and we can play with anyone when we put two halves together.”

(Grimm can be reached at agrimm@heraldstaronline.com. For local sports updates, follow us on Twitter @HSDTsports.)

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