Schwamburger's penalty kick lifts Pirates past Red Devils

FLATWOODS — The heat could be felt in the air and on the field Thursday night as both Wheelersburg and Russell's boys soccer teams' battled it out on the pitch on Thursday night.

But in the end, Coleton Schwamburger wound up netting the games' only goal to lift the Pirates to a 1-0 win over the Red Devils in a heated non-conference clash of two great programs.

"Going across the river is always going to be a battle," said Pirate coach Jon Estep. "We know what type of program Russell has in terms of how competitive and how well-prepared they are. Our kids rose to the challenge."

The defenses controlled the first half, as neither team was able to get many open looks.

Wheelersburg (5-0-1) had two of the best chances to break the scoreless tie but couldn't convert.

The first came during the 29th minute when Corban Stratton came up with a turnover and fed the ball to Schwamburger for a chance on goal that was stopped by Russell goalkeeper Caden Hampton.

The second came in the 38th when Stratton got a great look at the net, but Hampton was there again to make the diving save to keep the score tied at the break.

Russell (3-3-1) would see some of their best looks of the night come in the opening moments of the second half when Pirate netminder Caleb Partin would have to make a stop on a short-range shot from Gunnar Hignite. Then moments later off a corner kick, Hignite's header would sail too high as the game still remained scoreless.

But in the 59th minute, Gilberto Duarte would come up with a turnover and send the ball upfield to Stratton on a breakaway that resulted in a defensive foul in the box by Russell and resulted in a foul.

Schwamburger made good on the chance with a shot to the left corner of the net that just got past a diving Hampton to give the Pirates the 1-0 lead.

"Obviously, Coleton is our guy right now. He's grown with confidence and really settled in since Ashland, and ever since then, his confidence at shooting the ball has grown."

The Red Devils would make one last push in the final 15 minutes of play with a couple of opportunities to tie but couldn't convert.

One of those chances came in the 75th minute on a strike from the middle of the field by Hignite that hit the inside left post and bounced back out before being cleared.

"We withstood their runs, particularly in the opening few minutes of the second half and toward the end. I don't know how many corner kicks they had in the second half — probably eight or nine corner kicks — as well as some throws," said Estep. "But our guys gutted it out. We're limping off the field and we're cramping, but we didn't let the head get the best of us, and we kept our cool and maintained who we are."

The Pirates will be back at home on Tuesday with a Southern Ohio Conference showdown against South Webster. The Red Devils will be on the road at Lexington Lafayette on Saturday.

Wheelersburg 0 1 = 1

Russell 0 0 = 0

Second Half

Wh — Coleton Schwamburger penalty kick, 58:44.