Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Two tough road visits, two tough wins.
The St. Joseph Flyers’ soccer team picked up a pair of road wins last week as they beat the Fairland Dragons 4-1 on Thursday and downed the Wheelersburg Pirates 3-2 on Saturday.
“Both games we played very hard,” said Flyers’ coach Blake Balestra. “Our youth is starting to mature and come into their own. We are getting better each week. Hopefully, we will peak for the tournament.”
Against Fairland, Jackson Rowe enjoyed his first career hat trick with three goals to lead the Flyers. Isaac Whaley scored the other goal while T.J. Stone, Zach Roach and Rowe all getting an assist.
Flyers’ goalkeeper Jerod Johnson had seven saves.
Bryce Gorby had Fairland’s goal while goalie Ben Ward had seven saves.
St. Joseph had 16 shots with 12 on goal, four corner kicks and six fouls. Fairland also had 16 shots with eight on goal, four corner kicks and five fouls.
In the reserve game, the Flyers won 2-0.
Whaley took charge of the scoring against Wheelersburg with two goals and Jimmy Mahlmeister booted the ball into the net for the other St. Joseph goal.
Bryce Balestra and Whaley each had an assist.
The Flyers (6-3-3) used three goalkeepers with Mahlmeister getting five saves, Johnson one and Izack Unger had two saves.
Aaron Jolly score a Pirates’ goal while the other score was an own goal on the Flyers.
Wheelersburg goalie Dylan Burton had three saves.
St. Joseph had 10 shots with six on goal and nine fouls. The Pirates had 1y shots with eight on goal, five corner kicks and six fouls.
The Flyers host Rock Hill on Thursday.