State soccer finalists meet at PHS

By MATT LOCKE

Sports Writer



PARKERSBURG— The last time the Parkersburg High School boys soccer team matched up against Woodrow Wilson the game was seven seconds shy of a shootout with a state title on the line.

Parrkersburg (7-2) won the match 2-1, marking its second consecutive state title, thanks to a putback header from Michael Harmon.

This year, Harmon, along with four other starters, will be absent following graduation this past spring. Woodrow Wilson (5-0-1) graduated four seniors last year, but remains strong as it’s record shows.

The Flying Eagles are currently ranked ninth in the state, while the Big Reds aren’t too far behind at 14th. Though the Big Reds have two losses on their record, the first was to top-ranked Linsly and the second was a 2-1 loss to third-ranked George Washington.

Beckley is known for accurate short passes, taking advantage of the clock and maintaining possession. On Tuesday, the Flying Eagles easily handled GW by putting up three goals in the first half and going on to win by a final score of 5-0.

The match-up will pit a good offense against a good defense, a fact that both coaches understand.

“We’re going out of the frying pan and into the fire,” Flying Eagles coach Rocky Powell told the Beckley Register Herald after besting GW Tuesday. “Tonight gives us a little bit of momentum.

“Parkersburg is known for their good defense,” DeWese said. “We’ll have to hustle.”

The two storied programs have become rivals, but Parkersburg holds the edge on the all-time series at 8-6-1. The teams have met in the state championship game twice, once in 2004 and 2006, with both hanging onto one win apiece.

“We have to pitch a shutout (today),” Don Fosselman said of his defense. “We don’t want to give up one goal, we haven’t overpowered people on the attacking end.”

Though the rivalry is always decided on the field, the sidelines hold some rivalry history as well. Powell is a Parkersburg South graduate looking to do something his alma matter was unable to do this season— beat the Big Reds.

The Big Reds varsity squad is having a good year, but the J.V. squad is quietly having an astonishing season. The J.V. squad is undefeated and yet to allow an opposing goal while scoring 40 on it’s own.

Combined, the schools have won six state championships and competed in nine. The ’06 championship rematch will face-off today with the J.V. game beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity following at 7:30.

Contact Matt Locke at mlocke@newsandsentinel.com

Thursday, September 06, 2007