Bridgeport High School soccer teams enter sectional play Thursday evening at Wayne Jamison Field. Both Tribe teams will vie for the Section II title.

 

At 6 p.m., the boys take on the Bearcats of Grafton, who beat Liberty High School Tuesday evening. Just Thursday, the Indians played Grafton on the road, winning 7-2, just coming off an Oct. 9 tie with University - a game played on Bridgeport turf, both teams scoring a pair of goals. For the Tribe, Brock Amos scored early in the first half and Broc Oliverio – with an assist by Sam Stauffer - late in the second half.

 

The Indians stand at 12-5-2, recording losses to George Washington, Charleston Catholic, East Fairmont, University and Fairmont Senior.

 

Bridgeport’s girls take the field at 8 p.m., playing Liberty, which won over Lincoln Tuesday evening. Following the Lady Indians’ Tuesday evening practice, Coach John Reese said his team looked excellent.

 

“The girls had a great practice and things are really falling into place,” he said.

 

The Lady Indians, 11-4-5, ended the regular season with a 1-1 tie with Elkins, played Saturday on Tiger turf.

 

“We were down 1-0 at the half, but our girls dominated the second half,” Reese said. “It was so muddy and nasty. Braelynne (Sandreth) had a shot earlier and Maddie (Wilson) went to take a step to kick the ball, but she slipped and didn’t finish. But then Braelynn scored on a breakaway to tie it.”

On Oct. 11, BHS outplayed Grafton 5-0.

 

“We started off slow and Grafton had two shots inside, like five yards out and Rory (Marple) had incredible back-to-back saves,” Reese said.

 

Offensively, Maddie Wilson and Sandreth led the way; Wilson with two goals and an assist and Sandreth with one goal and two assists. Anna Cava also contributed a goal and Maddie Ware set up Olivia Arbogast on a free kick.

 

Topping off the girls’ quality play is the fact that the Tribe plays post-season at home.

 

“That game with Elkins was on a muddy grass field and was so sloppy, so the nice thing is we are home and we’re going to have turf as long as we’re alive,” Reese said. “We have control of our own destiny.”

 

Yet another perk is that the team is healthy. Besides Jordan Cole, who has been out nearly the entire season with a torn ACL (read HERE), girls who suffered injuries this season are all back. Most recently, defensive midfielder Emma Perine suffered a concussion.

 

“She was knocked out at the (Oct. 2) Charleston Catholic game and hasn’t played since,” Reese said. “This is the third week she’s missed. It’s nice to have Emma back.”

 

Emma Jones and Ashley Hart have been alternating to play Perine’s position. Both have done a good job. Jones had a particularly good game against Elkins, playing the whole second half and earning player of the game bragging rights.

 

“The younger kids have really been stepping up,” Reese said.

 

The sectional finals are Saturday; the boys at 10 a.m. and the girls at noon. The Section II winners will take on the Section I champions, the winners securing a spot in the state tournament in Charleston. 

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Ben Queen Photography taken earlier this season feature (from top) Broc Oliverio, Rory Marple and Maddie Wilson.