LOOKING AHEAD — Brooke’s Cooper Byers looks upfield during Tuesday’s OVAC quartefinal match at John Marshall. - Kim North

MOUNDSVILLE — The world can be a small place at times. Take Tuesday night’s OVAC Class 5A boys’ quarterfinal soccer match between Brooke and John Marshall won by the host Monarchs, 5-0, on the artificial pitch at Monarch Stadium.

Not only was it the first OVAC Tournament home match in program history for the third-seeded Monarchs (8-5), but the victory was even sweeter for head coach Josh Strope.

“I played for (Brooke) coach (Joe) Pepe at Weir High from 1996-99, so it’s kind of cool that my first OVAC Tournament win as a coach came against him,” Strope offered.

With the triumph, John Marshall moves on to semifinal action on Thursday on the artificial pitch at Harding Stadium against No. 2 Steubenville, which received a bye.

“I think this win was good for the school because we’re trying to build this program,” Strope said. “John Marshall isn’t known for its boys soccer, so this is a big deal for these guys, and I’ve been trying to get into their heads all year that making the (OVAC) tournament is a goal.

“Obviously, we’re in a tough division with Wheeling Park, Steubenville, Morgantown, University … it’s just hard to get in. When we got in we found out we’d be able to host a game. That’s huge for these guys.”

Senior Ethan Corvino scored the first three Monarch goals, giving him 14 on the season. He made it 1-0 halfway through the first 40 minutes off an assist by Cooper Berlin. It was the sixth shot on goal by the Monarchs.

Six minutes later Corvino made it 2-0 and it stayed that way until early in the second half, but not without the sixth-seeded Bruins (1-13) trying.

Cooper Byers banged a shot off the football upright in the 41st minute and Jacob High was denied by JM goalkeeper Tripp Bonds with a diving save in the 45th minute.

“We didn’t quit. We didn’t quit,” Pepe said. “We’re riding our two seniors (Cooper Byers and Gabe Keener) as far as we can go. It’s tough when you’re playing the schedule we do with freshmen and sophomores.

“We’re in the midst of a rebuilding year, but it’s not the first rodeo for me,” Pepe, who has been coaching high school soccer for 39 years, said. “I’ve been down this road before. We’re getting better and the kids are learning. That’s what is important.”

Brooke lost eight players to graduation last spring, including its top two goal scorers.

Corvino upped the margin to 3-0 for a brace in the 48th minute.

“He’s been our leading scorer all season after struggling last year that resulted in him getting benched. He never complained,” Strope admitted. “He came back this year more dedicated – not that he wasn’t last year – but he came back with a purpose of showing he was better than that. His motor never stops.”

After Byers knocked one off the crossbar, John Marshall scored on its next two shots – both off the foot of Daniel Pena – for a 5-0 reading.

“He’s still trying to work his way in a little bit. He didn’t start the season with us because he didn’t have enough practices in, but he’s been a sparkplug for us off the bench. He has some of the best foot skills that I’ve ever seen.”

Trent Burton closed out the scoring in the 72nd minute.

Pena added an assist to his goal, while Berlin finished with a pair of helpers. Burton also notched an assist, as did Quinton West and Connor Fromhart. Bonds made seven saves, with six coming in the second 40 minutes to earn the shutout.

Bronson Pack had 11 saves for Brooke.