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Clarksburg boys soccer coach Jeremy Spoales put it curiously after his team advanced to the 3A West Region boys soccer final for the third year in a row: "Well, that was certainly ugly."

At face value, his words rang somewhat hollow after the No. 2 Coyotes' 2-0 semifinal ousting of rival Northwood at home on Thursday. After all, they dominated the second half, with two gorgeous goals by midfielder Julio Arjona.

But even his players agreed.

"Yeah, it was ugly," said Clarksburg goalkeeper Austin Fielder, who recorded his 11th shutout of the season. "We played poorly in the first half. ... But they won't beat us as long as we're all here."

He was talking about himself, a junior, and seniors Arjona and defender Henry Reyes, who have never lost, or even allowed a goal, to the Gladiators. In mid-September, Clarksburg eked out a 1-0 victory.

So, what was ugly about Thursday?

Northwood dominated the first half, and accumulated a ton of chances. Strikers Daniel Caballero and Dennis Runikera took turns missing game-opening goals by inches. Midway through the first half, Caballero flicked his right heel onto a shot that passed Fielder, only to bounce off the right post.

And just before the first-half horn, freshman striker Geovanni Villatoro ran onto a long ball, colliding with Fielder. With the junior keeper on the ground, the ball squirted to Runikera 15 yards out, with only a Clarksburg defender rushing to the net. Northwood's leading goal-scorer sent the shot just high.

"The curse of the Coyotes," said Arjona.

The missed opportunities proved costly. With 25 minutes left, Clarksburg's Nick Civetti sent in a corner kick to striker Fernand Fekeu — who feinted, confusing the Northwood defense. Arjona charged in unmolested behind him and blistered a shot past goalkeeper Carlos Mendez.

"That's been our number one trick play all year," said Arjona. "It only worked once, against Watkins Mill, but I knew it was going to work. They were playing real tight. When Civetti played it in, I just said ‘Oh, I'm going to kill this.'"

His second goal was a thing of beauty, a 25-yard free kick from the left flank that bent into the upper-right corner.

Now comes No. 1 Tuscarora — which beat Watkins Mill, 4-2 in its semifinal match — and one more arch nemesis for the Coyotes: the regional finals. They made it this far each of the past two years in Class 2A, only to lose to Liberty both times.

"But this year," said Reyes, "we're going to win it. If we just practice hard and work hard, we're going to get it this time."