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STEUBENVILLE – The Big Red boys soccer team created a plethora of scoring chances against John Marshall.
Ultimately, a pair of hat tricks led the way offensively for the hosts as Big Red defeated the Monarchs, 8-2, in the OVAC Class 5A Consolation Final Thursday evening on Reno Saccoccia Field inside historic Harding Stadium.
The visitors took an early lead on a penalty kick, however, the hosts responded and answered with four goals in the first half to build a three-goal advantage heading into halftime.
“We came out flat,” Big Red (8-3-1) head coach Greg Bowers. “When you lose a tough game like we did Tuesday, it can be hard to find motivation. Our start was not perfect, but we were still able to get the job done.”
Chase Beall and Landon Bowers each tallied a hat trick to go along with two assists to lead the way offensively for the Big Red. Also, Justin Pathakamuri and Kaden Sliva also collected goals for Steubenville, while Tommy Lucas and Gabe Loot each contributed an assist.
JJ Lamantia made two saves in goal for Big Red before being replaced during the second half by Brayden Hayes. Hayes did not have to make a save.
Braydn Ruckman recorded both goals for the visitors from Marshall County. Ruckman scored both of his goals on penalty kicks.
Manuel Ramos made nine saves in goal for John Marshall (3-11).
Beall and Bowers each delivered a pair of goals in the first half.
After Ruckman scored to give the Monarchs the early lead, Big Red countered with four unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead into halftime.
Beall put his team on the scoreboard when he found the back of the net for the first time with 35:47 left to play before halftime knotting the score at 1. Then, Bowers put Big Red in front less two minutes later when he scored the first time to make the score, 2-1, with 33:57 remaining to be played in the half.
The score remained 2-1 for more than 15 minutes before Big Red put another one into the net. This time, Beall broke through for his second of the game to give the victors a 3-1 lead with 17:16 left to play before halftime. Like the first time, Bowers scored his second goal less than two minutes later as his second one gave the hosts a 4-1 lead with 15:54 left in the half.
“We were able to create a lot of chances,” Coach Bowers said. “Our ball movement wasn’t as good as it needed to be. We cleaned up our passing, and we cleaned up our opportunities in the second half. We played better in the second half than we did in the first.”
The second half was the same away as the visitors netted a goal on a penalty kick 16 seconds into the half to cut their deficit down to 4-2.
“John Marshall is a young team,” Coach Bowers said. “They have improved. They moved the ball. They were able to create opportunities. They were able to get the ball into the box, and we made a couple of mistakes.”
After Ruckman’s second penatly kick of the game, Big Red increased its advantage back to three goals when Pathakamuri scored less than two minutes later giving Big Red a 5-2 with 37:35 left to play.
Beall capped off his hat trick about 12 minutes later when he scored for the third time to extend Big Red’s advantage out to 6-2 with 25:39 remaining to be played. Bowers then capped off his a little more than five minutes later when he found the back of the net for the third to make it a 7-2 ballgame with 20:37 left to play.
Sliva finished off the scoring in the game when he found the back of the net with 13:17 still showing on the scoreboard clock brining the running clock into play.
The big victory enabled Big Red to sweep the season series from John Marshall as Big Red shut out the Monarchs, 8-0, Sept. 12 down on the road.
“Obviously, we would rather have been playing Saturday for a championship, but we will take the win,” Coach Bowers said. “Now, our focus is turned to the state tournament.”
Big Red is scheduled to play Weir at 6 p.m. Tuesday at home.
John Marshall is slated to play Monroe Central at 6 p.m. Wednesday at home.