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Big Reds have big expectations

PHS boys soccer team ‘a work in progress’

Photo by Joe Albright The Parkersburg High boys soccer team graduated nine seniors from last year’s state tournament team. The Big Reds are counting on some new players to step up this season.

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg High’s boys soccer team finished where it wanted to be, but not the game they wanted be in to close out the 2016 season.

PHS head coach Don Fosselman’s Big Reds achieved one goal of making it to the state tournament in Beckley, but fell one game short of playing for a state championship.

University’s Joseph Biafora recorded a hat trick and sent his Hawks to the title game matchup against George Washington instead with a 3-2 double overtime victory.

Nine seniors played their final game and gave maximum effort in an attempt to play for a state title.

Classes AAA 2016 Forward of the Year Immanuel Opoku-Duah and Class AAA 2016 Defender of the Year Jack Johnson were among those seniors looking for one last shot at a championship.

“We are a work in progress this season,” said Fosselman entering his 30th year at the helm of the Big Reds’ program with a career record of 423-95-70 and six state titles on his resume. “If you think of this team as a lump of clay and molding it, that is what this group is.”

Second team all-state wing Parker Miller takes over at the center forward position in the Big Reds’ 4-3-3 formation. Miller scored 25 goals last season and stands among the Top 5 in PHS history in the offensive category.

His 6-foot-3 frame provides a good target for everyone to aim at and get the ball to on the attack.

“He is the real deal” said Fosselman. “He will be one of our main offensive weapons this season.”

Murad Hamirani and Isaiah Owen play up top with Miller on the offensive side of the field. Hamirani scored some big time goals for his team last season.

His header off a Matt Runyon corner kick in the 65′ of last year’s Region IV final gave the Big Reds a 2-1 lead and ultimately propelled them to the state tournament.

Not to mention his goal at the state tournament against the Hawks.

He scored from a double assist off a throw-in from Runyon and a flick from the graduated Nathan Burd. His tally put University in an early hole.

The Big Red leader is very excited about adding Owen to the starting mix. “He is a year older,” Fosselman said. “The time between sophomore and junior year sees a rise in confidence level. Isaiah was not a starter (last season), but he went in and contributed. He knows he can play.”

Three-year letter winner Runyon patrols the attacking-mid position and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. His 18 assists were tops on the team in 2016. He currently sits at sixth on the career assist chart at PHS.

“He has a huge throw in,” raves Fosselman. “I mean he can absolutely just bury it. He is excellent with the ball – really good.”

Two-year letter winner Ian Domenick takes command of a defense led by Johnson last season. He is being asked to do a lot of the dirty work in fighting for balls and finding open teammates to get it too.

“He is a solid defender,” said Fosselman. “He won’t show up on any stat sheet, but he is really very special.”

Kiran Patel, Keegan Bush, Anthony Bradford, Sammy Potts and Georgia transfer Anthony Fleshman are penciled in as the other starting defenders right now after PHS graduated almost everyone in front of keeper Jacob McKnight.

The junior allowed 20 goals in 23 games last season. Fosselman is very high on his goalie and raves he keeps improving every practice.

Fans who expect the Big Reds to go two deep at every position with experience will have to be patient. A talented sophomore class has to work their way onto the field for varsity time to build the knowledge base back up to where it was last season.

Offensively, the Big Reds are going to score some goals. Don’t be surprised to see five or more kids with 10 or more goals come seasons end.

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