WEIRTON, W.Va. — The Weir High girls soccer team’s quest for an OVAC three-peat remains alive, but it took quite a bit longer than anticipated.

After more than an hour and 10 minutes between two seperate delays for lightning, the Red Riders emerged from a soggy Jimmy Carey Stadium with a 1-0 victory over rival Oak Glen in the Class 4A quarterfinals.

“We took a bunch of shot and we found one, sometimes that’s all you need,” Weir High head coach Jeremy Angelo said. “We know it’s going to be a close game when we play them, they play very defensive and try to frustrate you and then counter a couple times a game.

“We kept the ball, we went wide, spread them out and kept the ball in this end most of the game.

“I’m proud of the girls, they found a way through the elements and delays to keep their heads in it and keep playing.”

While No. 4 seed Weir (4-5-2) continues to have trouble scoring, defense and goaltending continue to be strong for the Red Riders.

“We’ve been consistent on that end as the year has gone on,” Angelo said. “We’re not allowing a lot of good opportunities.”

KK Engle’s goal early in the second half on an assist from _ gave the Red Riders the lead and it ended up being the only goal from either team.

Not long after, a flash in the sky halted the action for a second time with just under 30 minutes to play. It was nearly 45 minutes before the teams were able to retake the field.

“The challenge is to keep them focused and not just making TikTok videos,” Angelo joked of the delays. “They listen to music and talk and maybe the last 15 minutes we talk about some things for when the games starts back up. We kept telling to keep their heads up and keep in it during the second delay, we’ve been in delays before. Saturday we went to Charleston thinking we played at 12 and the game didn’t start until 2 p.m., so maybe that was a blessing in disguise to get us ready for tonight.

“It’s a mental thing and they were on it tonight.”

Oak Glen (4-6-3), the No. 5 seed, came out the break strong and had a couple of opportunities, but could not convert.

“I’m real proud of our kids,” Oak Glen coach Bill Watts said. “The first half we played a real defensive game, we limited their shots. The second half, we gave up a goal and had to respond after the delay and our kids came out fired up. We created some good opportunities, we just weren’t able to convert.”

Most of the game was played in a steady rain.

“The delays are difficult because they’re teenagers, it’s a challenge to keep them focused with a long break,” Watts said. “We try to keep them stretched and loose and focused on the game. The second break we gave them a rest, we didn’t get on them too much and they came out and really ramped up the energy.”

It was the second time the teams have met this season, the first was a 1-1 tie at Oak Glen earlier this month.

The Red Riders will have to wait and see who they will play in the semifinals as the other quarterfinal between No. 3 seed St. Clairsville and No. 6 seed Linsly was postponed a day by the weather. Weir will either travel to No. 1 seed Beaver Local or No. 2 seed Cambridge on Wednesday pending the outcome.

Oak Glen was unsure who it would face in the consolation round, as it would face the loser of Linsly and St. C but is already scheduled to play both of those teams next week.