By
Sports Writer
After a 0-0 tie against Parkersburg South and a 2-2 tie against Cabell Midland,
the Big Reds (
From the whistle the Big Reds were sharp. The back line of defenders sealed the
18 and midfielders won fifty-fifty balls at around center field.
The Big Reds controlled possession and made several runs in the first half. A
lot of those runs started with a pass from senior midfielder Michael Pitrolo.
Pitrolo has settled into his defensive role and the front lines have benefitted
from his ability to place the ball.
The senior midfielder’s attacking attitude spreads through the midfield to
players like junior Derik Craft. The Big Reds won the battle at midfield thanks
to several Craft headers. When Craft’s head found a ball, there were teammates
surrounding the ball.
Either Evan McGee or Ryan Grant was there to make the next pass or an attacking
Cody Brown was nearby.
Brown scored the first goal nine minutes into the match. After settling a deep
pass, Brown was surrounded by Redskin defenders inside the box. Brown fired the
shot off the bounce to get by diving Redskin keeper Noah Blackhurst.
Hurricane forward Bruce Hale almost scored in the 17th minute when he connected
with a crossing pass near the far post, but Hales’ shot went past the end line
for a goal kick.
The intensity level dropped for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Neither
team threatened the net. The Big Reds eventually started making runs into
Hurricane territory. Approaching the 18-minute mark the Big Reds lined up for a
corner kick.
The Redskins got to the pass first, but as the ball bounced outside the 18,
Pirtolo sent a high ball back into the box. As the ball came down senior Tim
Stephens finished with a shot to the back of the net to put PHS ahead 2-0.
Stephens not only scored a goal, he also thwarted several Redskin attacks by
clearing the ball and breaking up any Hurricane attack in Big Red territory. In
the defensive third, Stephens was flanked by capable seniors Cory McMahan and
Michael Brooks, who also made several plays to keep the Redskins scoreless.
The Big Reds found the net one more time in the second half, this time it was
newly eligible foreign exchange student Kevin Diedre who benefitted from a
McGee pass.
The Big Reds moved the ball downfield quickly and were testing a line of
Redskin defenders. McGee’s final touch put the ball behind the defense and
Diedre broke through to one touch it past the keeper.
The Big Reds look next to their last regular season game against Nitro on
Tuesday.