Vs. Beaver Local (10/22)
The Philo Electrics girls varsity soccer team fought hard Wednesday evening, but fell 2-0 to the Beaver Local Beavers in the Division IV East District Final at Red Devil Stadium in St. Clairsville.
Philo entered the match with momentum from prior rounds, yet the Beavers opened strong and pressed early. At approximately 32:26 of the first half, Beaver Local converted a corner kick, delivered by Riley Springer, into a headed goal by Ally Wright to go up 1-0. Philo’s best opportunity also came in the first half via a penalty kick with 4:11 remaining before the break, but the shot sailed wide left and the chance to equalize evaporated. In the rest of the half, Philo attempted to wrestle back control, but Beaver Local held the line, defended well.
In the second half, the Electrics attempted to mount a comeback, showing flashes of an attacking charge. However, at about the 24:57 mark of the second half, Beaver Local sophomore standout Peyton Dunn struck from 15 yards out to put the game firmly in the Beaver Local column at 2-0. From that point onward, Philo pressed but couldn’t find the breakthrough. Beaver Local goalkeeper Tatum Duncan registered seven saves. The Beavers registered 18 shots on goal compared to Philo’s seven.
Philo finished their postseason rounds with a Division IV District Runner-Up Title
Vs. West Holmes (10/20)
The Philo Electrics girls varsity soccer team delivered a gritty, determined performance on Monday night at home in Duncan Falls, outlasting the West Holmes Knights 4-2 to punch their ticket into the Division IV East District Final. The win marks a major postseason milestone for the Electrics.
From the start of the match, Philo took control of the ball and the pace. The Electrics showcased passing, movement off the ball, and a lot of energy that kept the Knights on their heels. Midway through the first half, Philo broke through with a well-worked sequence down the side that resulted in a cross that found a forward cutting into the box, finishing cleanly to give the home side the lead. West Holmes answered back, finding a goal of their own just before halftime to make it 1-1, and briefly sending renewed energy into the Knights’ bench. But Philo retorted immediately, rattling off a second score with under a minute to go before the break, capitalizing on a defensive miscue and converting on a rebound. The Electrics took a 2-1 lead into the locker room.
The second half opened with West Holmes trying to regroup, and they did, pushing forward with intensity and forcing a few notable saves from Philo’s keeper. However, the Electrics’ composure showed. Less than 10 minutes into the half, Philo stretched the lead to 3-1 on a curving shot from outside the box that dipped into the net. Late in the game, West Holmes narrowed the margin to 3-2 after a scramble inside the box and a calm finish under pressure, setting up a tense final ten minutes. But Philo quelled the comeback bid, tacking on a fourth goal in the closing minutes, this one a header at the near post that sealed the contest.