PHS defeats Patriots in soccer sectional
By
PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg South
forced a shootout in Saturday’s Region IV, Section 4 final match against
Parkersburg at Stadium field after both overtime periods yielded a 1-1 tie.
After 110 minutes of soccer, two shootout saves from Big Red (
Katie Roberts, Emma Levin-Nielsen, Brooke Logston and
Taylor Bryant secured goals in the shootout for the Big Reds, while Mackenzie
Bourgeois and Stacy Simon both scored for the Patriots.
Graham’s saves on the Patriots’ second attempt from Taylor Bush and their
fourth shot from Hannah Moore proved to be the difference.
“We had the plan and they worked the plan as well as I had hoped,” South coach
Mark Ashton said. “It got down to where we wanted it, it just didn’t come out
the way we wanted it to.”
Parkersburg South’s defensive attack was carefully planned, aimed at crippling
the Big Red scoring machine.
Big Red offensive weapons Chelsey Maiden and Alex
Bush were covered when
The defensive attack held the Big Reds, who averaged 4.1 goals per game this
season, to a lone goal in 110 minutes of play.
“South played really well,” PHS coach Mike Lockney complimented. “They marked
up our forwards and kept us from getting any clean looks, we had plenty of
chances but we just had problems getting one in.”
After sending attack wave after attack wave at the Patriots, Logston carried the ball down to the end line before
playing it back into the center of the keeper’s box. The pass found the feet of
an open Alison Feathers, who shot the ball past Patriot netminder
Sammi Hicks with
The 1-0 lead appeared to be enough considering the Patriots couldn’t secure a
shot on goal in the first half, but a minute into the second half South’s
Kelsey Watkins fired the team’s first shot on goal.
On one of South’s few trips into Big Red territory, the Patriots were awarded a
direct kick after contact just outside the 18.
With 24 minutes remaining, South’s Bourgeois placed the direct kick just over
the head of Graham to knot the score at one.
The Big Reds continued to attack the goal, taking turns challenging Hicks, but
Hicks was solid for the Patriots, making 23 saves to keep the match tied.
“I thought if we kept playing the way we were, we were going to score one, but
that’s not the way it worked out,” Lockney said.
The Big Reds look ahead to Tuesday night’s regional semifinal against Cabell
Midland. The game will begin at