Beckley – Point Pleasant’s Colton Young scored in the 54th minute, providing all the firepower the Big Blacks would need as they defeated Herbert Hoover 2-0 in the Class AA/A semifinals Friday morning in Beckley.
Controlling the pace of the game, the Big Blacks limited Hoover to just one shot attempt all game. The approach worked with both teams scoreless at the break but Young’s goal and another courtesy of Nick Cichon-Ledderhose cemented what’s been a historical campaign for Point.
“We scouted Hoover a little bit and saw some film on them,” Point head coach Chip Wood said. “We thought what we’ve done all year is try to keep the ball and create things and we really felt like if we spread the field out – they like to play narrow and jam it up the middle on you with those scorers they have. So we pressed the pass, tried to get the ball out wide and play it and try to create something. We finally got a few things create there in the end.”
The wins sends Point Pleasant to its first state championship game in program history where it will face Charleston Catholic on Saturday.
“The nervousness was gone after last week,” Wood said. “Getting here is part of the award. It’s so tough because soccer is the only sport that does sectional and regionals and doesn’t have a second chance. Every other sport has that so getting here is part of the award. My nervousness and anxiousness left last week. I feel really good and I’m proud of my boys. This is the most wins in program history and it’s the first time we’ve had the opportunity to play in the championship game in program history. So we’re super excited about the opportunity.”
