PHS soccer teams advance to regional finals Thursday

By MATT LOCKE. Sports Writer

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg High School boys and girls soccer teams will be joining each other in the regional finals for the second year in a row after claiming shutout victories in rain-soaked semifinals at Stadium Field on Tuesday.

The Big Red girls team (19-1-2) defeated Cabell Midland (10-8-2) by scoring four second-half goals while the boys (19-2-2) scored one goal per half against Huntington (12-8).

Parkersburg 4, Cabell Midland 0

After a scoreless first half, the Big Reds blew the second half wide open. Parkersburg controlled the tempo in the first half, but shots on goal were hard to come by, especially for the Knights. The Knights got their first legitimate shot off with only eight seconds remaining in the first half.

The second half was another story. Two minutes in Emma Levin-Nielsen sent a pass downfield, Chelsey Maiden got a foot on it, but was unable to turn towards the goal for a shot.

As the Big Reds continued to pressure, it was only a matter of time before they found the net. Maiden set up the game’s first goal when her pass awarded Brooke Logston a one-on-one opportunity with Cabell Midland goalie Emily Willis. Logston placed the ball well out of Willis’ reach, giving her team a goal and a boost of confidence.

“In the first half we were passing well and controlling the play, we were just having trouble finding chances,” PHS coach Mike Lockney said. “Maybe in the second half we were just getting impatient.”

While Parkersburg continued to pressure, winning balls at midfield and keeping the ball in the red zone was important to the Big Reds’ success. One player in particular forced the issue against the Knights — Amelia Hammel.

“(Hammel) dominated in the middle,” Lockney praised. “She got banged around, but she was challenging for every ball in the air, and won almost all of them.”

As the Big Reds controlled possession, five minutes later the Big Reds created another one-on-one opportunity. This time it was Taylor Bryant who fired a shot that ricocheted off the arm of Willis for the second goal.

Another Maiden to Logston to net transaction resulted in the Big Reds’ third goal with 31 minutes remaining. Maiden’s crossing pass made it through a line of Knight defenders and Logston was there to secure her second goal of the match.

Five minutes later, Levin Nielsen set up for a direct kick from 25 yards on the left side of the field. The shot curved into the top right corner of the goal to seal the Big Reds’ spot in the regional final against Winfield on Thursday at Huntington High School. Thursday’s match begins at 5:30 p.m.