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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke boys' soccer team began its rivalry week with a big victory on senior night.
Brooke collected two goals less than four minutes apart in the second half to break open the match en route to a 3-1 victory against rival Weir Tuesday night on Paul "Bud" Billiard Field inside Brooke Memorial Stadium.
"I am proud of the kids," Brooke (3-4-2) head coach Joe Pepe said. "They played very well. They stepped up on Senior Night. The defense stepped up. The midfield came together. It was a good effort by the whole team whether they were in the game or not. We got everyone into the game. I'm proud of the kids.
"Take nothing away from Weir High. They moved the ball well. They play aggressively."
The Green-and-Gold led 1-0 at halftime before scoring a pair of goals to build a 3-0 advantage with less than 11 minutes gone by in the half.
"It was an even game," first-year Weir (2-6) head coach Adam Welsh said. "We are slowly building. We're working on finishing in the final third – the attacking third. We're getting shots. We're getting opportunities.
"They had a couple of quick guys up top on the left. That presented a challenge for us, and they were able to score some goals."
Evan Urso contributed two goals for the boys in green, Chase Hile tallied a goal and an assist and Michael Dadoush delivered one assist.
"We could have had a few more goals," Pepe said. "We just couldn't finish them. That time is going to come. We are just trying to find the right mix. A lot of other teams are set with their lineups, but we are still working on finding the right mix."
Micah Hvizdack collected the lone goal of the game for the boys from Hancock County. Caiden Lamp produced the assist.
The match was scoreless for almost 23 minutes before Hile opened the scoring off of an assist by Dadoush to give the hosts a 1-0 with 17:04 left to play in the first half.
"We have had a lot of games where it has been 1-0 at halftime, but we came out and did not put it together in the second half," Welsh said. "We still have work to do. We are going to do the work, and we are going to get there."
The score remained 1-0 for more than seven minutes into the second half when Urso recorded his first goal of the match to give the victors a 2-0 lead with 32:43 remaining to be played in the match. Then, Urso struck again, with his goal coming with 28:28 showing on the scoreboard clock to increase Brooke's advantage to 3-0.
Hvizdack countered with a goal for the visitors with 23:40 still showing on the scoreboard clock, however, the Red Riders were unable to get any closer.
"We runs a flat back four," Pepe said. "I run it with a diamond. It was a regular Weir team we played tonight.
"I haven't coach at Weir for 10 years."
Both teams had opportunities to score in the final 23 minutes, but neither team was able to find the back of the net again.
Brooke goalie Chance Brozstek stopped six shots for the winners.
"Coach Pepe coached me when I was five-years-old," Welsh said. "I have the utmost respect for that gentleman. I played a lot for him. I have coached against him in the valley. I have played him a lot. I have a ton of respect for him. He is a real asset to the soccer community."
Ben Howard made seven saves in goal for the Red Riders.
"I coached their coach in the youth league," Pepe said. "I played against him when I coached at Weir, and he played at Brooke. I know their coach very well. I have been doing this for 37 years."
Brooke had an opportunity to extend its advantage in the final minutes, however, the shot hit off the crossbar to keep its advantage at two goals.
"It's always a good game when we play," Pepe said. "You can throw the records out. It is always a good game when you play a rivalry game.
"Our kids did an excellent job. We held onto the lead in the first half. We moved the ball. We missed some opportunities. We had a few chances to score more goals. We will figure it out.
"I am proud of the whole team. We played everybody."
Prior to the start of the match, Brooke honored its six seniors – Blake Stewart, Brayden Farrell, Dadoush, Hile, Brozstek and Urso.
Weir is scheduled to play John Marshall at 6 p.m. Thursday inside Jimmy Carey Stadium.
Brooke is slated to cross the river and play rival Big Red at 6 p.m. Thursday on Reno Saccoccia Field inside Harding Stadium.
"I have a lot of respect for Coach (Greg) Bowers," Pepe said. "Hopefully, we are able to go in there and put forth a strong showing. All I ask is that our kids leave it all out on the field."