Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — Weather ended the game before time ran out. As far as the St. Joseph Flyers were concerned, the game had been over before then.
Lightening cut Thursday’s soccer game short but the Flyers rolled to an 8-1 win over the Ohio Valley Christian Defenders.
St. Joseph (8-2-1) scored all its goals in the first half. OVC got its goal in the first half as the weather wiped out the second half.
Ryan Payne got the Flyers’ scoring underway with a goal at the 34:18 mark with an assist from J.C. Damron.
Two minutes later, Isaac Whaley scored with an assist from Matthew Sheridan and it was 2-0.
Whaley got his second goal with an assist by Bryce Balestra with 30:14 on the clock.
With 25:33 left in the half, Darmon scored as Chase Wilds had an assist.
Zach Roach got the next Flyers’ goal — his first of two — with an assist from Whaley and it was 5-0 with 21:45 on the clock.
Balestra, Jared Johnson and Roach all scored unassisted goals to boost the lead to 8-0.
The Defenders avoided the shutout on a goal by Justin Beaver with 10:12 to go in the half.
Goalkeepers Jimmy Mahlmeister had four saves and Dmitri Ward one for the Flyers. Conner Walter had seven saves for OVC.
St. Joseph had 20 shots and 15 on goal with one offside penalty, one foul and five corner kicks.
OVC had seven shots with six on goal.
The Flyers senior day is Saturday when they host Portsmouth Clay.
St. Joseph 8 DNP = 8
Ohio Valley 1 DNP = 1
First Half
SJ — Ryan Payne (J.C. Damron assist) 34:18
SJ — Isaac Whaley (Matthew Sheridan assist) 32:19
SJ — Isaac Whaley (Bryce Balestra assist) 30:14
SJ — J.C. Darmon (Chase Wilds assist) 25:33
SJ — Zach Roach (Isaac Whaley assist) 21:45
SJ — Bryce Balestra (unassisted) 19:04
SJ — Jared Johnson (unassisted) 18:36
SJ — Zach Roach (unassisted) 15:04
OVC — Justin Beaver (unassisted) 10:12