No coach needed West Holmes wins while coach heads home for birth of first child
When West Holmes girls soccer coach Josh Wengerd got the call from his expectant wife that she was in labor, he abandoned his team at halftime of the Division II Sectional semifinal game to get to the hospital for the birth of his first child.Wengerd shrugged off the timing of the birth, joking, “Who thought we’d be playing in the Sectional championship at this time?”
But that is exactly where the Lady Knights are after eliminating Maysville in overtime Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Duncan Falls.
Sophomore Rebecca Chamberlain hammered home the game winner with 1:30 remaining in the 15-minute ‘Sudden Victory’ overtime to give the Lady Knights a 2-1 victory.
“I called Rebecca last night after the game to congratulate her and she said, Coach, it was intense,” Wengerd said. “She said it was like it was in slow motion and she remembers yelling at the Maysville goalie, Don’t touch it, and then she let out a scream.”
Amy Boyd initiated the play with a corner kick. Several players got their feet on the ball in front of the net, but Chamberlain got a clear shot and she banged it right past the keeper.
West Holmes opened the scoring 17 seconds into the game off the opening kick-off.
Sarah Biltz fed Schuyler Jones who was streaking down the right side.
“She was in the right spot at the right time and she put it home,” Wengerd said. “She’s been doing that a lot for us lately.”
Maysville answered with the equalizer moments later, and then both teams played the next 75 minutes of regulation without any scoring. But both teams had plenty of chances.
The Panthers fired 20 shots on goal and West Holmes took 21 shots. Ayla Uhl came up with 19 saves between the pipes for the Lady Knights.
“I told the girls at halftime when I was leaving that the game was going to come down to whoever wanted it most,” Wengerd said.
Apparently, that turned out to be West Holmes.
The Lady Knights improved to 7-8-2 with the win and advanced to the Sectional championship game on Saturday, Oct. 24, at noon against River View.
“We played them earlier this year and it was 0-0 at halftime. We played right with them,” Wengerd said.
Wengerd’s wife, meanwhile, had yet to deliver as of Thursday afternoon.
“We’re still waiting,” Wengerd said.