West Muskingum’s boys soccer team punched its ticket to the state tournament for the first time ever, winning a thrilling Division IV regional final 3-2 in a shootout against Wheelersburg this past Sunday. Talk about drama, this wasn’t just a win, it was a moment the Tornadoes, and frankly, the entire Muskingum Valley League, won’t forget anytime soon.
Chaos, Composure, And A Historic Save
Seriously, you guys, this game had EVERYTHING. West M found themselves in a sudden-death penalty kick shootout, a situation that makes most goalies sweat bullets, but not senior Bryce Stant. He LIVES for these moments. And thank goodness he does, because he pulled off a crucial save in the one-on-one. Right after that, Wheelersburg had a misfire, leaving Austin Fink to step up and bury the game-winner. Bang! History made. It was a 3-2 win on a sun-splashed afternoon at Logan High School’s Chieftain Stadium, and honestly, you couldn’t write a better script. This is the first time in program history West Muskingum (17-2-3) has hit the regional final, and now they are only the second Muskingum Valley League team to ever make it to the Final Four. Remember River View, who snagged the D-IV state title in 2024? Yeah, these guys are now in that elite company. Plus, 17 wins? That’s a school record, folks.
The Grind That Led To Glory
This wasn’t some fluke. Head Coach Ryan Barks, who’s basically been the backbone of West M athletics for two decades, saw his team benefit from some straight-up brutal tests earlier in the season. We’re talking close losses on the road to Columbus International and Vincent Warren, plus a gritty 1-0 win against a tough River View squad in the district finals. Barks said those moments “really opened our eyes” and screamed they “needed to find another level” of grit. And man, did they ever find it! They needed every ounce of that fight when Wheelersburg (16-2-4), ranked No. 2 in the state, came roaring back, scoring twice in the final six minutes to wipe out a 2-0 West M lead. Both teams had chances in two sudden-death overtime periods but couldn’t convert. But through all that chaos, Stant and Fink kept their cool. Stant’s been practicing these shootout scenarios, just waiting for his chance to show what he’s learned. And when it mattered most, he delivered. Barks was hyped to see a massive crowd of Tornado fans there, even on an NFL Sunday. “Some haven’t watched soccer before and don’t get it completely,” Barks said. “I am hoping with the excitement and everything else that is going on, it just keeps spreading with everything else that is going on at West. There are a lot of amazing things.”
Next up, the Tornadoes will face the perennial power Warriors (17-3-2) in the state tournament game. That’s going down on November 11 at 7 p.m. at Granville’s Walter Hodges Stadium. Get ready, because these guys are on a roll, and they’re not done yet!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply