BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WV News) — Coming into a match with soccer powerhouse Wheeling Park, Bridgeport coach Keith Dumas felt that his team could compete. But confidence proved to be the difference maker as the Indians downed the Patriots 2-1 in a thrilling match on Saturday.
Bridgeport became the first team in West Virginia to score two goals on Wheeling Park in a single match this season. "That's big," coach Dumas said. "They're a really good team.
I thought we played well. We had as many chances as they did. We didn't bury a couple of breakaways.
" Wheeling Park controlled early looks in the match, capitalizing on its pace to nearly take 10 shots on goal in the first half alone. Wheeling Park’s Wilson Hanna scored the first goal of the match within the first 10 minutes from the center of the field on a blown play. "Their only goal, we gave them that goal," coach Dumas said.
"We played it into the middle and they were quick on the counter. You can't play it 25 yards out from goal and lose it. They countered and made us pay right away.
" Bridgeport keeper Andrew Dumas did a tremendous job of deflecting and stopping plenty of shots that were often placed with precision. He finished with seven saves in the first half. The Indians would apply late pressure by taking control in the midfield during the final 15 minutes of the first half.
Bridgeport took five shots on goal in that stretch, but none would find the mark. Wheeling Park goalkeeper Gavin Border finished with eight saves in the first half. Wheeling Park carried it’s 1-0 lead to the break.
The Patriots played a physical game that ended up costing them. In the 60th minute, Bridgeport was awarded a penalty kick as a foul was called on Border. "It's a difficult call," coach Dumas said.
"I'm not going to say if I would've called it or not, but I would've been mad if it was called against me. I thought it was a 50-50 ball. I thought it was because our guy was straight up and he came through him.
I think he was calling that." Grayson Church lined up the opportunity and scored. While Border would get a hand on the ball, it would finish upper-90.
"Oh my gosh, he almost saved that ball," coach Dumas said. "It was upper-90. That was amazing.
" Within the initial scrum, a red card was given to the Patriots that forced Wheeling Park to play down a man. Bridgeport broke the plane shortly after. Cogar fired a perfect pass to Will Madden, who scored on a header.
The tremendous shot gave Bridgeport the advantage. "That was a beautiful ball and a great finish off the head," coach Dumas said. "Keepers can't do anything about that.
The only way we could save it is if it was going right to him. These guys are great. This is the level I think we can play at.
" Bridgeport would also take a red, making the game 10-on-10 for the final moments. Wheeling Park would get chances all the way to the final whistle, but the equalizer never came. With a statement victory, Bridgeport improved to 6-3-3 on the season and will face Lewis County on Tuesday, Sept.
24. "They're a really tough team," coach Dumas said. "If we're going to go to states, we have to go through them.
I'm very proud of the kids today, they gave it everything." Bridgeport is now on a five-game win streak. "I've felt that the last two weeks, after playing some heavy competition, that we've put together some things that we've been working on all season," coach Dumas said.
"We've got people in the right places finally. When you do that and your team starts getting that chemistry — I kinda like getting beat up at the beginning of the season. We knew we had work to do.
You can tell how excited they are now. They're really putting in the work." Wheeling Park loses just its second match to in-state competition and is now 9-3.
BRIDGEPORT 4, WOODROW WILSON 1: The Bridgeport girls followed up with a win over Woodrow Wilson, narrowly beating the rain as the game was called off with 30 minutes remaining. Because the game was past halftime at the time of the initial delay, the game will count toward the record of both teams. Bridgeport's first two goals were scored on corner kicks.
In the 11th minute, Brianna Smell scored on a flick after an initial deflection came from Allie Callahan. Four minutes later, LeeAnn Gaskins scored on a second chance from a set piece to give Bridgeport a 2-0 advantage. Callahan scored the Tribe's third goal on a breakaway during the 28th minute before Woodrow Wilson's Carly Fisher scored directly from a free kick to make it 3-1.
The final goal of the match came one minute later. Gaskins scored her second goal on a bump and run in the box. Bridgeport took a 4-1 advantage that held through halftime and into the final delay.
The Indians are now 7-1 on the season and host Lewis County on the same date as the boys' team..
