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BECKLEY, W.Va. - Experience is a wonderful thing and the Weir High boys soccer team used it to its advantage.

The Red Riders' standout forward Chad Ford collected a hat trick during Friday's 4-1 win over Oak Hill on Carter Field in the West Virginia Class AA-A state championship semifinals at the YMCA Youth Sports Complex.

That gives Weir High a date today with Charleston Catholic for the state crown.

The contest will be played 45 minutes after the conclusion of the 11 a.m. girls state title affair between the Red Riders and Charleston Catholic.

The Weir boys dropped an 8-6 decision to Berkeley Springs a year ago in the semifinals after getting down 6-1.

"We talked about being the first one to score and keep hustling," said Red Riders junior Tyler Salko, who had assists on two of Ford's goals.

"We have more experience," said Ford, who started the scoring in the seventh minute after he capitalized on a mistake by an Oak Hill defender. "We knew when we came down here what we had to do."

"I think we were caught off guard early last year, but we caught on during that game and I think that helped us for the early part of this game," said Red Riders junior Matt Kopp.

The Red Devils came back to tie the score 1-1 seven minutes after Ford's goal when a direct kick just outside the penalty box hit the crossbar and eventually found the back of the net.

"I was looking everywhere and it dropped down right in front of me," said Weir goalkeeper Josh Barney. "It didn't even bounce. He just kicked it right over me."

Most of Oak Hill's offense in the first half was on direct kicks because of fouls called against the Red Riders.

"Those (direct kicks) are dangerous," said Ford, who has 36 goals this season after scoring 50 a year ago.

Ford made it 2-1 with 17:30 left in the first half off an assist from Salko.

"That goal was really important," said Ford. "It set the tone.

"I looked up and the goalie was coming at me, so I knew I had a chance because the goal was wide open. The defender was on my back and the goalie was in front of me and he didn't take off the angle at all. He left the goal wide open. Actually one of my favorite players scored like that before and I always thought, 'maybe I could do it.'"

It was the first meeting between Weir and Oak Hill.

"You have to learn real quickly," said Ford about playing a team for the first time in a pressure situation. "In the first five minutes you have to learn what they do."

"We did nothing but blackboard work at yesterday's practice for about an hour," said Red Riders coach Joe Pepe. "These guys adapted well.

"I think we controlled the first half rather well."

Kopp scored in the 55th minute for a 3-1 lead.

"I got kind of lucky," he admitted. "Chad shot it and it bounced off a defender right in front of me. I kicked it real hard - it was a hard shot, but not aimed that well. It was lucky, but, whatever it takes."

Barney finished with seven saves, three of which came in a span of about 10 seconds.

"I just have to make sure nothing gets in the net and there are four really good defenders in front of me," said the sophomore, whose saves preserved the 3-1 lead.

Ford finished the scoring off a pass from Salko in the 89th minute.

Salko admitted there was a little bit of pressure because the Red Riders girls had won earlier in the day.

"It's awesome that both Weir High teams are in the championship games this year," he said.

Ford and Salko have been a great 1-2 punch this year for the 15-2-2 Red Riders.

"Playing with Chad last year I know how hard to kick it so he can run it down," said Salko. "Last year he and I got used to how each other plays and that was a big help coming into this year.

"No matter what, we can normally find each other out there. It's really good that we can do that. It helps out our team a lot.

"If he has the ball and they are playing two men on him, there's usually one or no guys on me. If he gets that pass over, I'm wide open and hopefully I can put it on the net."

(Mathison can be contacted at mmathison@heraldstaronline.com)