Max Hagans
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John Bruce

Wheelersburg blanks South Point, wins 4th consecutive district title

The Pirates will now meet with South Webster in the Sweet 16.

John Bruce, Staff Writer

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

JACKSON — For the fourth consecutive season, the Wheelersburg Pirates are Division III district champions. 

Behind a trio of goalscorers and a stingy defense, the Pirates (18-1-1) shutout South Point, 3-0, on an overcast Saturday afternoon at Jackson High School.

“To win four in a row, there’s a lot of adversity that goes through it, and we felt pretty good all year long,” Wheelersburg coach Jon Estep said. “But the injury bug hit the last few weeks of the season, being down as many as four starters. But, it’s a testament to this school and program that they take pride in the next one up.”

Wheelersburg’s Max Hagans scored in the Pirates’ win over South Point on Saturday. The win marked the program’s fourth district championship.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA

Part of the adversity the Pirates have faced is the loss of senior captain Connor Estep to a season-ended injury. 

“It’s the fact that he can go through what he did and still be out supporting us,” senior Max Hagans said. “It means a lot. Just looking over there and seeing him, knowing he’s here for us, that’s a big thing. He’s been a huge part of this program. What we’ve done over the past four years wouldn’t have happened without him.”

Despite being nicked up, the Pirates started off with a bang as sophomore Nick Sylvia scored on an absolute laser at the 33:37 mark. 

“I got the ball, I turned and I saw the space,” Sylvia said. “I heard [his teammates] telling me to shoot and I shot. It went in.”

The Pointers took the blow from the Pirates and nearly gave one of their own on the other end. Joey Bloebaum was able to shake free and get a low, right-footed shot away, but Wheelersburg’s Breyden Byrd made a sprawling save to parry the ball wide of the net. 

“We knew Breyden grew last year in that regional final as a freshman,” Estep said of his sophomore goalkeeper. “We knew with his work ethic and time he put in over the summer that he would be ready.”

A few minutes following the Pointers’ near miss, the Pirates finally created some distance between the teams with 17:58 to play in the first half. Brody Wilburn cashed in on a loose ball in the box for a 2-0 lead. 

Wheelersburg felt in control throughout the match, thanks largely in part to its outstanding defensive effort.

“They are so important to everything we do,” Sylvia said. “They play it to us, we play it and we go. We can’t do anything without their hard work by there. They’re all extremely important to this team.”

Although the Pointers (11-4-3) weren’t breaking through, they also were able to keep the Pirates off the board for an extended period of time. Junior goalkeeper Christian Dornan collected 12 saves for South Point to keep his team afloat. 

That was until the Pointers were whistled for a foul in the box, which led to the dagger from Max Hagans. The senior calmly stepped to the spot and buried the penalty for his 52nd goal of the season. 

“I just go up there with confidence. That’s the key,” Hagans said of takings penalty kicks. “Every time I go up there, I know where I want to go [with the ball] and that I can beat the goalie to that spot. That’s the key. I just have to maintain that confidence and know that I can score.”

While South Point’s season comes to a close, the Pirates will now meet with South Webster in a Division III regional semifinal at 7 p.m., Wednesday at Logan High School.

The Jeeps beat Northwest by a 4-0 tally to advance. In the two’s regular season meeting, back on Sept. 19, the Pirates earned a 6-0 victory.

“We have a great set of coaches and schools that do a great job of showing that we can play a little bit of soccer down here,” Estep said of South Webster and the rest of the SOC. “[South Webster] is a different team than the last time we played them and they know that we are too. It will be a dogfight and should be a great atmosphere.”

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