ON THE MOVE — Brooke’s Gianna Siegel races up the field with the ball during Tuesday’s Class AAA Region 1 quarterfinal against Grafton at Brooke Memorial Stadium. The Bruins won, 2-0, to advance in the tournament. - Andrew Grimm

Playing what will be their final home game of the season hosting the opening round of the Class AAA, Region 1 tournament, the Bruins got their first tournament win in several years, blanking visiting Grafton 2-0 inside Brooke Memorial Stadium.

“It means a lot to the program to be able to win a home tournament game,” Brooke head coach Jack Minger said. “It’s very special. I don’t even know the last time that Brooke won a home tournament game. We got the opportunity in the first year of this new format and were able to do it. I’m proud of the girls.

“We had a lot of shots, not a lot of them went in, but we were able to get the win. Give credit to Grafton, they came in here with a plan and made us work for it. The last time we played them it was 6-2 so they came in here and played very well and very hard.”

The victory gives the Bruins five seniors a victory in what will be their last home game. They joined one another arm-in-arm and walked across the field together one final time after the final horn.

Brooke’s Amelia Myers kicks the ball out of the air during Tuesday’s tournament game. - Andrew Grimm

“It was very nice for the seniors to be able to win their last game here,” Minger said. “It’s an emotional moment for them.”

And, in improving their season mark to 10-8-2 with the victory, it guarantees the fourth-seeded Bruins a winning season regardless of what happens the rest of the tournament. They finish 9-3 on their home pitch this season and are 5-0-1 in their last six games.

It was one of the seniors — Aaliyah Siegel — who led the way in the victory with a goal and an assist. Gianna Siegel, a freshman, tallied the other Brooke goal on an assist from Ava Roach.

Junior goalkeeper Ivy Myers was a perfect seven for seven making saves on Bearcat shots to preserve the blanking.

Grafton, which was the No. 5 seed, finishes its season 5-15-1.

Brooke’s Emma Riggs takes possession of the ball at midfield. - Andrew Grimm

Brooke now faces a big challenge in the regional semifinals on Thursday as they take a trip south on Interstate 79 to take on East Fairmont.

The Bees, the top seed in the region and No. 1 ranked team in the state, are the defending state champions and are on a 40-game winning streak, sitting 19-0 this season.

“We know it’s going to be a big challenge,” Minger said. “We will go down there with a plan, play as hard as we can and see what happens.”

Brooke’s Adalynne Welsh leaps to avoid Grafton’s goalie after chasing down the ball. - Andrew Grimm