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OVAC soccer tournament field to be limited

HEADING OUT — Madonna’s Julia Wingett heads the ball in front of Weir High’s Bella Aperfine during Saturday’s city championship. The Blue Dons are the second seed in Class 1A/3A and will face Catholic Central in the championship on Saturday. (Photo by Joe Catullo)

COVID-19 has struck the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference soccer playoffs, especially in Class 1A/3A and Class 5A, as several West Virginia schools are not allowed to participate due to state restrictions.

On the boys side, Wheeling Central (5-1-0) and University High (2-0-0) would have been the top seeds in the aforementioned divisions, while Linsly (4-1-0) was No. 2 in the smallest division and Wheeling Park (5-2-0) in the biggest. However, none will be taking the field.

St. Clairsville is the top seed in the boys and girls Class 4A portions of the playoffs that begin today at various sites around the Ohio Valley.

The Red Devils (5-0-2) will play host to the fourth-seeded East Liverpool (3-2-2) boys team at 6 p.m. at Red Devil Stadium in one semifinal. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Beaver Local (6-2-1) welcomes third-seeded Indian Creek (4-2-3) on Thursday at 5 p.m. The two winners will square off on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Brooke Memorial Stadium.

The Class 5A semis see No. 1 Brooke (6-1-1) entertaining fourth-seeded Parkersburg South (1-6-0) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. A day earlier, second-seeded Steubenville (2-2-3) faces No. 3 John Marshall (1-5-0) at 5:30 p.m. at Harding Stadium. Those winners will meet Saturday at noon at Brooke Memorial Stadium.

Warren Local (5-2-0) was ineligible to participate for not playing enough OVAC opponents. New Philadelphia (4-3-0) and Dover (3-3-2) chose not to take part.

In Class 1A/3A, No. 1 Catholic Central (4-3-2) and second-seeded Caldwell (2-3-0) meet for the title on Saturday at 3 p.m., also at Brooke Memorial Stadium.

The Crusaders would have been the fourth seed, as Monroe Central (3-1-1), which placed third in the standings, was ineligible for tournament competition for not playing enough OVAC matches.

Catholic Central (1A/3A), St. Clairsville (4A) and Wheeling Park (5A) were 2019 champions.

On the girls side, the Red Devils (7-1-1) welcome No. 4 East Liverpool (4-2-1) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Red Devil Stadium. Second-seeded Oak Glen (5-2-0) entertains No. 3 Indian Creek (6-2-0) on Thursday at 5 p.m.. The winners clash at noon on Saturday at St. Clairsville’s Red Devil Stadium.

In Class 5A, top-seeded Parkersburg South (7-0-0) hosts No. 4 John Marshall (1-4-0) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Parkersburg, while No. 2 Steubenville (4-1-1) welcomes third-seeded Brooke (2-3-3) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Harding Stadium. The victors meet Saturday at 3 p.m. at Red Devil Stadium.

Morgantown (1-0-0), University High (2-0-0) and Wheeling Park (4-1-0) are unable to compete due to COVID-19 restrictions. Warren Local (4-0-2), Dover (3-3-2) and New Philadelphia (3-4-2) chose not to participate.

In Class 1A/3A, top-seeded Catholic Central (4-2-2) and No. 2 Madonna (2-1-3) will meet for the championship on Saturday at 3 p.m., also at Red Devil Stadium.

Linsly (3-1-3), who would have been the top seed, and Wheeling Central (1-5-1) were not available to participate due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Cadets (1A/3A), Oak Glen (4A) and Morgantown (5A) won titles last season.

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