IN PURSUIT — Weir High’s Rowan Stevens defends against Linsly’s Julian Fischer on Thursday. - Aaron Petchal

WEIRTON — The Weir boys’ soccer team was looking to avenge a loss to Linsly earlier this season, however, the Cadets were able to control the ball and the match against the Red Riders.

Liam Jones ended up with two goals and an assist leading Linsly to a 5-1 victory Thursday night up at Jimmy Carey Stadium.

“It was more what we were not able to do,” Weir (9-10) head coach Adam Welsh said. “They are a good team. They made solid passes. In the first half, we did not play with a lot of energy. We did not come out the way here the way I hoped we would. We didn’t the effort or energy we needed to have. The second half was batter.”

The match was scoreless for more than 12 minutes before the visitors from Ohio County found the back of the net for the first time.

“These guys have the ability to do that,” Linsly (10-8-1) said about his team being able to control the ball and create a lot of scoring chances.

“Weir started off strong. They gave us a good fight. It was until they were one goal or two goals down that we were really able to control things. Give Weir credit. They came out and showed a lot of fight. This was our last game of the season. We wanted to end the season on a high not. I am happy we were able to do that.”

Agustin Fonseca finished with two goals for the visitors, Jamie Loudermilk collected a goal and an assist and Rafael Sanchez and Max Iglesias each tallied an assist.

“They move the ball really, really well in their attacking third,” Welsh said about the Cadets. “They were able to break us down pretty well. We did not have good communication. They were able to get behind us.”

The visitors used two goalies in the match. William Kolovos started in the net, and he was replaced by Giovanni Amitti during the second half. Each goalie made one save.

Micah Hvizdack contributed the lone goal for the boys from Hancock County.

Caden Runkel recorded nine save in goal for the hosts.

Loudermilk delivered the first goal of the night when he scored with 27:43 left to play in the first half to give the victors a 1-0 advantage. The boys in white extended their advantage to 2-0 less than six minutes later when Jones netted his first goal of the match with 22:15 remaining to be played before halftime. Fonseca capped the scoring in the first half with his first goal of the match to increase the Cadets’ advantage to 3-0 with 11:51 remaining in the half.

Jones opened the scoring in the second half as his second goal enabled Linsly to build a 4-0 lead with 23:07 left to play in the match. Fonseca finished off the scoring for the Cadets as he found the back of the net for the second time – with this one coming with 4:58 left on the clock.

Hvizdack recorded the lone goal for the Red and Black on a free kick with 2:49 still showing on the scoreboard clock.

The Cadets shut out the Red Riders, 5-0, in the first meeting between the two teams Sept. 22 on the road.

“There wasn’t a lot different,” Martin said about the two games. “We knew we were going to have to come out and play well. Weir did not make it easy on us. They’re a good team.”

The match was the last one of the regular season for the Red Riders. Weir will open up postseason play this upcoming week.

The boys in black competed at the 2025 Janice Pepe Brooke Classic Aug. 16 at the soccer fields at Brooke.

“The best part of being a coach is seeing these boys develop,” Welsh said. “I was talking to Linsly’s coach. We start in June with conditioning. We work the ball. We do soccer stuff. Seeing these kids develop and come together as a team and to play as a team, that is what it is all about. You love to see it.”