Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth
WHEELERSBURG — Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. Wheelersburg’s Nick Sylvia might be the ultimate big-time player in Southern Ohio.
The fantastic junior striker proved to be inevitable once again on Thursday as he scored two scintillating goals in the final three minutes of the first half to help the Pirates top Minford on Thursday by a 3-0 final to win the outright SOC II championship.
“I’ve been very blessed to have guys of [Sylvia’s] standard,” Wheelersburg coach Jon Estep said. “I’ve seen guys over the years, not only in orange and black but in other schools, have that ability. Nick is his own guy. He has his own craft and he’s different from others. To watch him do what he does, it just goes back to the hours of summer work. It’s fun to sit back and enjoy.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“I told him before the game started that games like these are where great ones show up,” Estep added. “This was his moment. It was his moment to go take and earn as a great player.”
Coming into the evening, both teams had matching 8-1 records in league play, making the contest a winner-take-all affair.
Through much of the first half, it appeared as if the game would come down to the final moments to decide a league champion. Both defenses did a great job of denying quality chances for the opposing offense, who both came into the contest averaging better than five goals per game.
On the rare opportunity for a shot, each goalkeeper — Breyden Byrd for the Pirates and Kade Glockner for the Falcons — was able to contain the attack with both keepers notching two saves in the opening 30 minutes.
For most of the half, it appeared that the Falcons were going to be able to contain Sylvia with a swarming defense, which limited the amount of touches the striker had. However, with 2:26 to play, Sylvia brought the Pirate faithful to their feet.
He took a pass down the right side, cutting inside of his initial defender where he was met with two more Falcons. However, it would be no problem for the junior to split that duo before ripping a left-footed shot into the side netting for a late first half lead.
And just 68 seconds later, he struck again.
Senior Carter Rawlins took a pass down the right sideline and sent a beautiful low cross around the penalty spot that connected with Sylvia who came streaking down the left side of the box for the finish and a 2-0 lead.
“He’s a great player,” Wheelersburg’s Miller McKenzie said of Sylvia. “He’s a constant source of enthusiasm for our team and tonight, he really got us going. He helped us believe in ourselves that we could win this game.”
PHOTOS: Images from Wheelersburg’s win over Minford
Coming out of the break, Minford looked to strike quickly with their outstanding attack of Myles Montgomery, Gavin Downey, Ashton Reeder and Ethan Cordle. But the Pirates’ defense continued to limit quality chances for the Falcons.
Wheelersburg’s defense of junior Andrew Tabor and seniors Clark Weller, Grant Williams and Carter Porter, alongside McKenzie, were more than up to the challenge of the high-flying Falcon attack.
“We talked about controlling [Minford’s] speed a lot this week,” Estep said. “We can’t match their speed athletically up top, so we had to do it as a unit. Our guys worked really hard in practice of containing runners and dribblers. They trust Braden back there, as well deserved. But those guys in front, for two of them to never play and get to where they’re at … it started for them last year. They gelled and learned so much. I’m just extremely proud of those guys. To be able to blank a team like Minford, that’s special.”
The closest that the Falcons came to scoring ultimately set up the dagger on the other end for the Pirates.
A cross from Montgomery was deflected in the box by Downey and it appeared destined for the side netting, but just nicked the right post before being gathered by Byrd. The Pirates pushed forward for a quick counter-attack with Sylvia bringing the ball down the left side, where he saw some added attention.
From there, Sylvia connected with senior Brody Wilburn in the middle of the box and the midfielder drilled the ball into the back of the net for his 10th tally of the season with 28:07 to play.
“It was great,” Wilburn said. “Nick’s pass was right there on the platter to me and I just couldn’t mess it up. It felt great.”
With a big crowd on hand, the Pirates were able to utilize their midfield play to hang on to their dominant win. The midfield of McKenzie, Rawlins, Wilburn, Coleton Schwamburger, Mason Billiter and Ethan Hochstetler were outstanding throughout the game, especially as the Pirates were salting away a physical match over the closing minutes.
“Miller’s an unsung hero. He does a lot of stuff that a lot of people don’t give credit for. They don’t see that,” Estep said. “The selflessness that he has is so important. Big moments like this, he knows where his ticket is. Colton had to grow up quickly. We told him that this was his time. Early on, I thought he was a little shaky. But now, he’s really grown up. I like where we’re at.”
With the 3-0 win, the Pirates close league play with a ridiculous 56-5 scoring advantage, with thre of those goals allowed in the first matchup with Minford. Following that matchup, the Pirates have rolled off 10 consecutive victories, in which they have only allowed four goals on their way to another league title.
“It feels great. We knew coming in that [Minford] had a great offense,” McKenzie said. “We knew we’d have to put a lot of work into it. I feel like we accomplished what we wanted. [The community’s support] means a lot. We feel special and we feel celebrated. We have to give props to our community for showing up and showing support.”
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