MAKING A SAVE — Brooke goalie Bronson Pack looks to make a save in front of teammate Kai Bowers against St. Clairsville on Wednesday. - Aaron Petchal

WELLSBURG — The Brooke boys’ soccer team battled against a talented St. Clairsville squad, however, the experienced Red Devils were too much for the youthful Bruins to handle as St. Clairsville came away with a 10-0 victory via mercy rule Wednesday evening on the grass field at Brooke.

“We ran into a really good team,” Brooke (0-1) head coach Joe Pepe said. “We went as far as our experience could take us. We are going to get better. I am proud of the kids. Coach (Konner) Govey is proud of the kids. There is not a whole lot you can do. The kids played their hearts out, and they left it all out on the field. That is what counts. I am proud of them.

“St. Clairsville is a good team. They are a seasoned team. This was the first time they beat us in four or five or six years.”

The boys from Belmont County led 7-0 at halftime, and the match came to an end when the visitors scored their 10th goal with 23:27 still showing on the scoreboard clock.

“We worked on moving the ball around,” St. Clairsville (2-0) head coach Jeff Roberts said. “We have some decent speed up top. We were able to get some good through balls. We were able to pass the ball. We played as a team today.”

Senior standout Parker Galloway produced four goals for the victors, while goalie Talan Rice tallied an assist.

“They’re definitely short on numbers,” Roberts said about the boys from Brooke County. “They are not the normal Brooke team we have seen in the past. They are going to get better. They are going to be a really good soccer team.

Bronson Pack made 14 saves in goal for the Green and Gold, while Kai Bowers cleared a shot from out in front of the goal.

“I always tell the kids that we are going to focus on the good and work on the bad,” Pepe said. “For some of these kids, this was their first varsity start and their first varsity match. We have some work to do, but we will be fine. We will get these young kids ready to go.

“We are going to put this one behind us, and we are going to look forward. We are going to be 0-0 again on Saturday. We will start again.

“St. Clairsville is a very good team. Take nothing away from them.”

Brooke is scheduled to play John Marshall at noon Saturday on the road. The Monarchs are coached by Josh Strope, who played for Pepe at Weir.

St. Clairsville is slated to play Beaver Local at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home down at Red Devil Stadium.