KEYSER, W.Va. — No. 3 Frankfort and Keyser played to a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
For the Golden Tornado (3-9-1), despite not being a win, it felt like one of their most significant outcomes in recent memory.
“They’re finally doing what they’re supposed to do,” Keyser head coach Chris Altobello said. “And they just have to realize it. It’s taken four years, and they’re finally doing what they’re supposed to do. Pass the ball, get to where they need to be, get in front of the defenders. I’m so proud of them. I know it’s not a win, it’s a tie. But I can’t remember the last time that we even tied Frankfort.”
Thursday marked the first time Frankfort didn’t beat Keyser outright since 2021.
On the other hand, it felt more like a loss for the Falcons (10-2-3).
“I’m not happy with our performance,” Frankfort head coach Jason Vaughn said. “I felt like they were to every ball, any ball we kicked, they were the first one to it. Every ball we put in the air they headed it. We weren’t good enough to a second ball. They did all the hard work stuff way better than us.”
Both goals came in the final two minutes, and within 14 seconds of each other.
Off a free kick with 1:55 remaining, a deflection set up Mason Jones for a goal to put Frankfort in front 1-0.
A penalty was called on the Falcons, setting up Jarrod McElwain for a penalty kick, who buried a shot in the top left corner.
“Our senior at the end, scored the penalty kick,” Altobello said. “But more importantly, our other senior, who I’ve been coaching both of them since first grade, played that long ball. And Braylen Blowe hustled 60 to 70 yards downfield and the result ends up getting us a penalty 15 seconds after they scored.”
Keyser appeared to score at the 14:56 mark of the first half on an own goal after a free kick was deflected off a Frankfort defender into the net.
Altobello said Keyser’s defender interferred with the goalkeeper.
The Falcons controlled possession and shots, finishing with a 21-7 lead in shots and 11-4 on goal.
Frankfort also led in corner kicks 3-2.
“I thought most of our shots were pretty tame, most of them were right at the keeper,” Vaughn said. “We had two kind of wide open chances, the ball kinda went wide. I just didn’t think we produced anything that was real quality where anybody kinda opened up and faced the goal. We created chances, but I didn’t think they were quality chances.”
Caleb Blacka recorded 10 saves for the Tornado while Alyn Weaver finished with three for the Falcons.
Altobello got emotional postgame, reflecting on the four-year journey his program has gone through.
The Golden Tornado haven’t won more than three games since 2021.
“For one thing, it’s Frankfort,” Altobello said of why he got emotional. “It’s been a rough four years for me. We have three wins this year, that’s the most wins we’ve had. To come in here after playing the way we did against Petersburg and get a tie versus Frankfort and to not shut down after they scored. It’s very easy for us to be like, aw crap. We’re done! No, they stepped up and were able to get us in a position to win.”
Altobello also expressed gratitiude to Keyser athletic director Johnny Haines, for providing locker rooms for the soccer team.
Altobello believes it’s the first time since the soccer team began playing at Alumni Stadium at Tornado Alley that they’ve had access to a locker room.
Keyser hosts Philip Barbour on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Frankfort heads to No. 4 Fort Hill (8-2) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“The message I wanted to get across, they did a better job of doing it themselves,” Vaughn said. “The season’s fleeting, we talked about last year’s team how that team ended long before they thought they were going to. This thing could be over in three weeks, four weeks, and is that how they want it to end?”