Wood County Christian’s Braeyn Joseph tries to take the ball away from Williamstown’s Mason Mercer during a 2-2 tie at Huggins Field on Tuesday night. Joseph and Mercer each scored a goal. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
WILLIAMSTOWN – Williamstown was hoping for its first win of the season here Tuesday night at Huggins Field, but could not hold on to a two-goal lead at halftime and had to settle for a 2-2 tie with visiting Wood County Christian.
“They are a good team. They have a lot of good players,” admitted Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Mercer, whose club currently has a record of 0-2-1 and faces a home game against Parkersburg Catholic on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
“Give them all the credit. We’re a young team. We play a lot of freshmen and sophomores. We only have two seniors. We’re a small club, but our core group of players is really good and we’ve surrounded them with players who are getting better every week.”
WHS junior Mason Mercer planted the ball firmly on his foot in the box at midfield and found the back of the net with 13 seconds left in the 13th minute. Wildcat goalie Andrew Seigneur tried to dive to his right but couldn’t get a glove on the ball.
Williamstown, which failed to score from four corners in the first half or two in the second, increased its lead to 2-0 in the 28th minute.
Williamstown’s Gavin Hill heads the ball away from the goal during the Yellowjackets’ 2-2 tie with Wood County Christian on Tuesday night at Huggins Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Seigneur came out of the goal and tried to grab the ball while Yellowjacket Gavin Sivard tried to make a play. Sivard went down, eventually got up and left the field, but Seigneur had to leave the field due to a yellow card for a reckless foul.
This led to Lyric Perdue taking the penalty when the veteran goalie beat backup goalkeeper JJ Dimit, who had to leave the field and put on his jersey and gloves.
Williamstown’s Macy Phelps had a good chance in the 31st minute, but her attempt to make it 3-0 went wide of the post.
Although they were down but not yet defeated, the Wildcats regrouped around boss Nick Johnston at halftime.
“I told them at halftime to do their best and we have 40 minutes,” Johnston said of his now 2-0-1 team: “We changed the lineup a little bit.”
Williamstown’s Gavin Sivard tries to control the ball as Wood County Christian’s Garrett Boardman applies pressure during a 2-2 tie Tuesday night at Huggins Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
Just 2:06 minutes into the second half, Cameron Coppernoll assisted on Braeyn Joseph’s goal, which beat goalkeeper Jon Johnson.
Wood County Christian continued its attack early in the second half and in the 47th minute, Joseph looked like he might tie the game, but his shot hit the top of the crossbar.
In the 51st minute, Griffin Wharton sent a cross to Caleb Coppernoll, but his direct shot went high and wide of the net.
Perdue had a good chance to make it 3-1 in the 56th minute, but failed to get the ball on goal.
The Wildcats, who play at Calvary Baptist Academy on Friday, finally tied the game five seconds into the 70th minute when Caleb Coppernoll scored the equalizer off a throw-in from Cameron Coppernoll.
“One of my freshmen (Caleb) stepped up and shot a ball into the net,” Johnston said in compensation: “He works his ass off every day.”
“I was very proud of them, especially in the second half. It’s tough to be two points down at half-time and then manage a draw. I was hoping for another goal, but I’ll take a draw.”
Williamstown had another good chance in the 77th minute when Mercer fed the ball to Kadence Bandy who passed it to Toby Thompson for what would have been a winning goal, but Seigneur was there to save.
“We have to continue like last year, get better every week and reach our peak at the end of the year,” added coach Mercer. “We are getting into better shape from week to week.”
Contact Jay Bennett at [email protected]
