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Big Red completes the St. Clairsville trifecta to capture sectional title

RACING AWAY — Steubenville’s Adam DiCarlo (7) celebrates a goal while teammate Jacob Noble (20 follows during a Division II sectional final against St. Clairsville on Saturday. (Photo by Joe Catullo)

STEUBENVILLE — The Big Red boys’ soccer team had St. Clairsville’s number this season.

Big Red, the No. 2 seed, scored multiple goals in each half en route to a 5-0 victory over the fifth-seeded Red Devils in an Ohio Division II Eastern District sectional final Saturday inside Harding Stadium.

The victory was Big Red’s third against St. Clairsville this season.

“St. Clairsville always comes to compete,” Big Red (15-1-2) head coach Greg Bowers said. “Coach (Gary) Watt does a good job with them. (Kyle) Hendershot is a handful, and so is (Alec) St. Clair.”

Big Red defeated St. Clairsville (9-6-3) during the regular season, in the OVAC Class 4A tournament final and now in the sectional final.

“They are old. They have a lot of seniors on their team,” Watt said. “They have played together for a while, and they played like it. They are a very good team. It was a battle. We played them straight up. We did not have everybody back. They have nice touch. They are aggressive. They have a lot of skill and they were able to score goals, but I am proud of my team.

“We kept playing. We just don’t have the skill level they do, but we have a lot of heart. We played a solid three games against them. I am proud of them.”

With the win, Big Red will now play No. 8 seed Zanesville in the district semifinals Tuesday night at a time and location to be determined. Zanesville advanced to the game by upseting No. 3 seed Minerva, 1-0, Saturday on the road.

“Coach (Steve) Ashby has done a great job bringing that program back to life,” Bowers said. “Their goalie is tremendous. He has good size. They have only allowed 10-12 goals on the season. They are good defensively but not as good offensively. In soccer, all it takes is one.”

Evan Naylor netted two goals to lead the way offensively for Big Red, while Adam DiCarlo and Ryan Delelles each tallied a goal and an assist. Alex Barnhouse and Noah Reinacher each recored an assist. Jacob Clevenger made two saves in goal.

Ryan Davenport made eight saves in goal for the Red Devils.

“This season has been a great success,” Watt said. “It has been a lot of fun. It has been enjoyable. We worked hard. We had summer training, and the kids were energetic and positive the whole time. We got off to a good start, and then we had some injuries in the middle of the season. We were co-champs in the Buckeye 8, and we made it to the OVAC 4A Final. This season was a great success.”

Big Red scored three goals in the first half and two more in the second.

“This is another step,” Bowers said. “Now we want to go for the next championship. You can’t win one without the other.”

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