Bryant’s shot propels
Parkersburg
By
Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer
Saturday,
November 3, 2007
Fifty-seven minutes into the Big Reds’ state tournament semifinal game with
Bryant fired from 25 yards out, skipping the ball through goalkeeper Jillian
Blalock’s legs and into the back of the net for the only goal in a 1-0
“I was wide open and no one was coming towards me,” said Bryant, a 5-foot-4
junior forward. “Coach (Mike Lockney) told us if no one was on us, to take the
shot. So I did.”
Blalock, a sophomore, called it a lucky shot.
“I was ready for it, but it just bounced at the wrong time,” she said. “It hit
a bump and got between my legs.”
The pitch at Paul Cline Stadium was still wet from early morning frost.
“It was slippery, but
Bryant’s score decided a evenly-matched contest that
featured just three shots on goal by each squad.
“The shots on goal show what kind of a struggle it was,”Lockney
said. “They defended really well and we had to be on our toes to stop their
counter-attacks.”
Park nearly tied the count in the 67th minute when Sarah Bizanovich
and Caitlin O’Leary fired back-to-back shots from just inside the 18.
Keeper Kelsey Graham managed to deflect both shots to preserve the win.
“Everyone was scrapping in there,” Bizanovich said.
“The goalie made a good save.”
Blalock had two saves for the Patriots, who conclude their season at
“It’s unfortunate to have that kind of an ending,” coach
Mark Hladek said.
Scoring: