STEUBENVILLE – The Steubenville girls’ soccer team has completed the first step on its postseason journey.
Freshman Bailee Beall tallied four goals leading No. 6 seed Big Red to a 6-1 victory against No. 10 seed Harrison Central in an Ohio Division II Eastern District Sectional Co-Final Thursday night on Reno Saccoccia Field inside Harding Stadium.
“We played them early in the season, and we won by one,” Big Red (8-9) head coach Annie Cutri said. “We spent the week preparing to mark them. We had difficulty marking them in August.
“We were able to capitalize on some fouls in the box. We scored on three PKs.
“In the second half, the girls learned if you shoot, you can score. We have been working on our attack all season. If you don’t shoot you are not going to score.”
Junior Angi Ferri made history for the Huskies as she set the school record for the most goals in a season with 30. Ferri netted the lone goal of the match for Harrison Central on a penalty kick in the second half.
“We are coming off some major injuries,” Harrison Central (7-9-1) head coach Mindy Madzia said. “Our center back had hip surgery, and our attacking midfielder has a knee injury.
“Angi Ferri broke the school record for goals in a season. She scored 30 goals.
“We just could not find it tonight. I wish nothing but the best for Steubenville going into the district tournament.”
With the win, Big Red advances to the district semifinals against John Glen at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night down at St. Clairsville’s Red Devil Stadium. John Glen – the No. 4 seed – shut out No. 19 seed Morgan, 14-0, in a sectional co-final Wednesday night at home.
“John Glen is a very solid team,” Cutri said. “The girl they have at center mid is phenomenal. We are going to have to really prepare for them.
“We are going to have to work on our defense. We are going to have to play smart. We are going have to play between the player and the ball. The team that plays defense together stays together.
“We are going to have to take advantage of the opportunities we do get in front of the net.”
Maleea Crownover and Hailey Neeley each collected a goal for the Red-and-Black. Marleny Torres and Sagan Smarrella each recorded an assist.
Adelaide Shaw stopped five shots in goal for the girls from Jefferson County.
Vanessa Dowdle made 13 saves in goal for the girls from Harrison County.
Beall scored three of her goals on penalty kicks.
“It means we are still in the tournament,” Cutri said about what winning the sectional tournament means to her team. “It means a lot. It especially means a lot when we are able to win a sectional game at home. This is the last home game for our seniors.
“We definitely like to win the sectional tournament, but we especially like to do it here. It means we are not done yet.”
The victors netted the first four goals of the match before Ferri scored to make the score, 4-1.
“I want to congratulate No. 16 (Ferri) on setting the school record for goals,” Cutri said. “She’s a good player.”
Big Red netted the final two goals of the night.
“We made the OVAC Tournament this season, and we scored 57 goals,” Madzia said. “I’m going to look back at this year as being very grateful.
“We have six seniors we are going to miss. Our underclassmen know what has to be done on the field.”
Harrison Central’s six seniors are Maddy Bender, Collete Downs, Hayden Elliot, Gracie Rogers, Alexis Smith and Alina Williams.
The match was originally scheduled to be played Wednesday night, but it was postponed due to a lack of officials.
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