Published: May 10, 2008 11:38 pm         

Wheeling outlasts Rapids 1-0

The timing wasn’t necessarily the best for the Wheeling and West Virginia Rapids 18-under soccer teams Saturday at the Darrell Moore Memorial Tournament.

But they made the most of it.

Playing short-handed as they took to the pitch for their second match in five hours, they battled tooth and nail for 90 minutes. Wheeling came out with the win, 1-0.

“We had a couple of injuries and a couple of players who had senior activities back home,” Wheeling coach Erica Hall said. “I think we did a good job.”

Her squad scored a goal in the opening minutes and made it stand up against a Rapids club that had just 12 available players.

Their two college players, Mountain State University goalkeeper Christina Baker and midfielder Lindsey Denny, completed their school year and went home Friday.

Two other players, Jessica Proudfoot and Courtney Hannah, played in the Rapids’ 4-3 win over Parkersburg and then had to leave.

“We had just one sub and we pretty much ran out of steam in the second half,” assistant coach Greg Lytton said after the loss to Wheeling.

Katie Jochum scored the winner against the Rapids, a shot that hit a hole and took a funny bounce.

Keeper Megan Alderman tried to deflect the shot, but it took another strange bounce and went into the goal.

“It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but it won us the game,” Hall said. “We’ll take it whatever way we can find it.”

Wheeling (6-3), primarily made up of players from Linsly Academy and Wheeling Park and Brooke high schools, defeated the West Virginia Rowdies 3-2 in the first round. It had been 3-0 at halftime.

“We got tired,” Hall said. “(The Rowdies) got a penalty kick and scored a nice second goal.”

She’s enjoying the tournament.

“It’s good for the level of play we’re at,” she said. “It’s not too easy or too hard. It’s an even playing field.”

The Rapids had to fight from a 3-1 deficit to beat Parkersburg.

Brittany Nelson had two goals and Kate Armentrout and Courtney Hager added one apiece

“We started out slow, but the girls came together,” Lytton said. “Our passes came together, the offense and defense played well and we ended up winning 4-3.”

The tournament concludes today with Wheeling taking on Parkersburg at 9 a.m. and the Rapids meeting the Rowdies at 10:45. Both matches are at the YMCA’s Paul Cline Stadium.