Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Looks aren’t everything. Winning is.

Even though they might not have looked good doing it, the St. Joseph Female Flyers stunned the Wheelersburg Lady Pirates 5-4 Monday in a soccer game.

St. Joseph jumped out to a 5-1 lead and then held on to beat the Lady Pirates as Emma Saxby scored three goals and had two assists.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we’re happy to hold on for the win,” said St. Joseph coach Kyle Weatherholt.

“Emma Saxby was outstanding the whole game. She carried the team on her back today, not only with brilliant goals and assists, but with her constant running and defensive effort as well.”

St. Joseph had four goals in the first 20 minutes of the game.

Saxby scored with an assist by Kaylee Sheridan and then came back with an unassisted goal.

Lynsey Booker then scored for the Female Flyers with Saxby getting the assist. Saxby made it 4-0 with an assist from Natalie Heaberlin.

Wheelersburg got an own goal when a long free kick into the box deflected off one of the St. Joseph players and into the net.

But Saxby made a nice cross that was headed in by Meghan Riley for a 5-1 lead.

“We survived a tough test against a very strong Wheelersburg team tonight,” said Weatherholt.

“We got off to a good start. Give them credit. They played hard and kept us under constant pressure. They fought us to contested balls. And they moved the ball well as a team.”

The Lady Pirates got two goals from Christen Riser and it was 5-3 at the half.

The scoring slowed down in the second half as Wheelersburg got the only goal when Sophie Hagans scored.

“We made some adjustments at halftime to tighten things up in the back. Our girls fought hard the second half to allow only one goal and hold on for the win,” said Weatherholt.

St. Joseph visits Athens at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Wheelersburg 3 1 = 4

St. Joseph 5 0 = 5

First Half

SJ — Emma Saxby (assist Kaylee Sheridan)

SJ — Emma Saxby unassisted

SJ — Lynsey Booker (assist Emma Saxby)

SJ — Emma Saxby (assist Natalie Heaberlin)

Wh — Own goal

SJ — Meghan Riley (assist Emma Saxby)

Wh — Christen Riser unassisted

Wh — Christen Riser unassisted

Second Half

Wh — Sophie Hagans unassisted