South Webster goalkeeper Aiden Mcgraw made nine saves against Minford during Tuesday’s Southern Ohio Conference Division II boys soccer match at South Webster High School.

Ed Litteral | Daily Times

SOUTH WEBSTER — Now this was simply South Webster’s signature win, while Minford made its work for the Southern Ohio Conference Division II boys soccer championship more dicey.

That’s because, on Tuesday as darkness descended rapidly upon South Webster, the host Jeeps scored two second-half goals from forward convert Hunter Barnard —and senior goalkeeper Aiden Mcgraw made multiple incredible saves.

Barnard’s back-of-the-netters on a mud-ridden and squishy pitch, the first one early and the second one late in the second 40 minutes, notched a 4-2 doubled-up South Webster victory —and the first Falcons’ loss in the ultra-competitive yet top-heavy SOC II.

The Jeeps also snapped the Falcons’ 11-match win streak, as Minford lost at Lynchburg-Clay 4-3 in the season opener.

Since then, the Falcons had soared above the competition —including a 2-1 triumph over the Jeeps a month ago, and a 3-1 win over Wheelersburg exactly a week after that.

But the Jeeps’ “killer Bs” — of the (Hunter and Brayden) Barnards, Brycin (McClintic) and Benaiah (Andrews) —were too much for Minford on this evening, as the waterlogged field conditions didn’t actually prevent an offensive eruption.

For veteran SWHS coach Corey Claxon and his Jeeps, this was the key victory they’ve been striving for all season.

The Jeeps raised their record to 9-4-1, and to 5-3-0 in the SOC II —as the loss at Minford and sweep by Wheelersburg left South Webster just outside the conference championship chase.

“This was a good win for us. We’ve had several games where I thought we were right there with the other team and even better at times, but we just came up short. We played well against Minford the last time and we played well against Wheelersburg too. Sometimes you win the big game and sometimes you lose,” said Claxon. “It’s just part of it. But it was good to see us play well enough to get the win AND get the win.”

It helped, too, that the Falcons were atop of the SOC II — as Minford, Wheelersburg and South Webster have ruled the division for what seems like ages.

This season, so far, the Falcons (11-2-0) and Pirates (12-1-0) are now tied at 8-1-0 —with Wheelersburg hosting Minford for the outright title on Thursday night (Oct. 10) in the regular-season finale.

“It’s always a rivalry with them (Falcons) and it’s always a big game in the conference. These are the big games in the conference that we want to win,” continued Claxon. “We didn’t feel like it was out of reach in any manner to win this game. I just think we outplayed them tonight.”

Minford’s Peyton Caudill (13) battles South Webster’s Dylan Shupert (3)

Ed Litteral | Daily Times

Both teams took 16 shots, with the Jeeps taking advantage out of their nine shots on goal to Minford’s 11.

Claxon said he recently moved Hunter Barnard to forward, and the Jeeps’ offensive output increased.

Barnard bagged the go-ahead goal with 31 minutes and 22 seconds remaining — a quick reversal off a Minford turnover in which the pressing Falcons had several of their defenders near the midfield or even into their offensive third.

“Hunter finds a way to get good shots on goal each game, and he has really changed things for us since we moved him up (to forward position),” said Claxon.

Minford coach Jacob Hackworth said his Falcons’ focus momentarily was lost.

“We had a turnover in the midfield, and they just had numbers and countered on us. We had our outside backs pressed high because we thought we were going to be driving, but they just split our backs and they made a good shot,” said Hackworth. “It’s one of those things where you lose focus for a minute because you want a call, and they counter quickly and put one in.”

From there, the senior Mcgraw got heavily involved —saving rocket blasts in one-on-one situations, and doing so by diving, fading backwards, jumping up and amazingly deflecting the ball with one hand, or even one-legged knocking it away.

One stop he even, remarkably, headed it out of danger.

Two that stood out were exactly two minutes apart —a one-handed swipe diving to his right against Minford standout senior striker Myles Montgomery, and the other a leap into the air to snag a corner kick.

Of the Falcons’ 11 shots on target, Montgomery fired six —and their only two goals were a pair of equalizing Ethan Cordle first-half penalty kicks.

South Webster’s Kaden Perkins battles Minford’s Myles Montgomery (10)

Ed Litteral | Daily Times

The Falcons also had a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks, but couldn’t convert any.

“Aiden (Mcgraw) is a senior now, it’s his spot, and he busts his butt in practice making saves on shooting drills and we see that. It was great just to see him make the big saves in the game. He’s always been capable of doing that,” raved Claxon. “He had probably three or four just monster saves when we were just up by one (3-2). He changed the momentum for us with his effort and the want to win this game.”

Mcgraw got plenty of assistance from his defense, as the Jeeps did not allow a goal — aside from the penalty kicks.

“We went up again in the second half, and we went into more defensive mode than really what we should have, but our defense played scrappy enough to keep them from scoring,” said Claxon. “Our defenders many times got up and cleared the ball. Everybody just worked their butts off. Then they were pressing and sending extra guys up, and sometimes you just have to defend.”

Barnard made it 4-2, and put the match on ice, when he scored again with only 4:18 remaining —off a Seth Hughes pass.

Another Barnard, Brayden Barnard, made it 1-0 South Webster —with only 13 seconds elapsed.

South Webster’s Brayden Barnard (17) scores the Jeeps’ first goal against Minford goalkeeper Kade Glockner (2) during Tuesday’s Southern Ohio Conference Division II boys soccer match at South Webster High School.

Ed Litteral | Daily Times

Barnard squeezed the orb through Minford senior keeper Kade Glockner’s hands and legs, and into the net to set the tone.

“That first goal really energized us and allowed us to make mistakes where we’re still okay. Both times we had the lead in the first half and they got penalty kicks to tie it, but that early goal helped us stay up and set the pace of the game,” said Claxon.

Hackworth added that South Webster won the midfield battle, and that the rainsoaked pitch conditions didn’t do the Falcons favors —given their style.

“They (Jeeps) started off exactly how they wanted to with that early goal. It felt like the whole game we were digging out of a hole, and we couldn’t get in our rhythm and play how we like to play. We were trying to force it deep more, instead of playing to feet. Give credit to them, because I felt for the majority of the game they won the midfield. If you win the midfield, you usually win the game. It was true again today,” said the coach. “It (field conditions) wasn’t ideal either, but both teams had the same surface, so we’re not using that as an excuse. I think it affected both teams, definitely us, because we play possibly more possession than they do.”

In between Cordle’s penalty-kick conversions, with just over 32 minutes and under eight minutes left in the opening half, McClintic made it 2-1 Jeeps —heading the ball into the net, as he skipped it onto the far post off a free kick.

South Webster’s Brycin McClintic (22) heads in this first-half goal during the Jeeps’ Southern Ohio Conference Division II boys soccer match against Minford on Tuesday at South Webster High School.

Ed Litteral | Daily Times

Andrews accounted for both assists, as the Jeeps pitched a shutout for the match’s final 47:47.

For the Falcons, they still play at Wheelersburg for the SOC II title —whether that be a share with a tie or outright with a win.

First touch is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday night (Oct. 10) at Ed Miller Stadium.

“I don’t think any coach in the league thought that any team was going to go 10-0 (in league play). The talent at the top between South Webster, Wheelersburg and us is so good and the games are so competitive. I knew we would get a nick somewhere along the way, so that makes next Thursday night a lot bigger for us,” said Hackworth. “We think we match up better with Wheelersburg than we do with South Webster, but it’s still going to be a real dogfight. They have a storied program, a good coaching staff, and we’re looking forward to it.”

For the Jeeps, Tuesday’s tilt —with the postseason tournament rapidly approaching —was THE signature ‘W’ they were rolling for.

“This is a big win for the tournament seeding, and this was a great team effort,” said Claxon. “I felt like we deserved to win by the way we played.”

* * *

Minford 2 0 —2

S. Webster 2 2 —4

SW —Brayden Barnard (Benaiah Andrews assist), 39:47, 1st (1-0 SW)

M — Ethan Cordle (penalty kick), 32:08, 1st (1-1 tie)

SW — Brycin McClintic (Benaiah Andrews assist), 22:36, 1st (2-1 SW)

M — Ethan Cordle (penalty kick), 7:47, 1st (2-2 tie)

SW —Hunter Barnard (unassisted), 31:22, 2nd (3-2 SW)

SW —Hunter Barnard (Seth Hughes assist), 4:18, 2nd (4-2 SW)

SHOTS — Minford 16, South Webster 16

SHOTS ON GOAL — Minford 11, South Webster 9

SAVES — Minford 5 (Kade Glockner), South Webster 9 (Aiden Mcgraw)

CORNER KICKS — Minford 5, South Webster 2

FOULS — Minford 7, South Webster 9

OFFSIDES — Minford 3, South Webster 1

YELLOW CARDS — Beau Stephens, South Webster; Ethan Cordle, Minford; Brycin McClintic, South Webster; Max Lauder, Minford

RED CARDS — None

Reach Paul Boggs by email at [email protected], or on X @paulboggssports © 2024 Portsmouth Daily Times, all rights reserved