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Big Reds’ Don Fosselman honored by NFCA

Second time in career for PHS? boys soccer coach

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg High School boys soccer coach Don Fosselman wasn’t sure what to expect when his 30th team took the field in the season opener against Jefferson on Aug. 18.

Afterall, the program with zero losing seasons to its resume said goodbye to six seniors including 2016 Forward of the Year Immanuel Opoku-Duah and 2016 Defender of the Year Jack Johnson.

Naturally, losing so much talent would cause anyone to be unsure when quizzed on team expectations for the followup year.

However, Fosselman also brought back a lot of talent from the ’16 team’s run to the state semifinals last November in Beckley.

Four experienced seniors and keeper Jacob McKnight played against University in the 3-2 double-overtime loss.

Depth also was an issue as a group of skilled sophomores needed to find where they fit in on the varsity team.

“We are a work in progress,” said Fosselman at the beginning of the season. “If you think of this team as a lump of clay and molding it, that is what this group is.”

The shape his team transformed into began the season 1-1-1 before going on a 16-match lossless streak in the middle of the season with a 2-1 loss to University to end the season at 15-3-2.

Along the way PHS rose as high as No. 1 in the state, won a Mountain State Athletic Conference title, ended George Washington’s 38-match lossless streak, and earned the right to play for the 24th sectional title in program history Thursday night at Stadium Field.

“When those seniors walk out the door I go “Oh my god, we aren’t going to win another game,” said Fosselman.

“But these kids have come together. And I think we have such a strong soccer culture that we kinda build every year and we bring the kids up from the jayvee program and they understand what they need to do and accomplish. I think it kind of just rolls together and slowly but surely they come together as a team and have done very well this year.

“The one thing I try to make them understand,” continued the only coach PHS boys soccer has ever had in its history. “Don’t play for the win. Don’t go out there thinking ‘I’ve got to win.’ Play for something greater than that. Play for the teammate next to you .. don’t let him down. Do your best, be accountable. Don’t put so much pressure on you that you have to win — Play for a greater thing and it just seems like it works out.”

Fosselman’s job did not go unnoticed by the National Federation Coaches Association, who awarded him the 2017 NFCA State Coach of the Year Award for his outstanding commitment to his athletes.

He will receive the award Nov. 3 or 4 at the state soccer tournament. This marks the second time Fosselman has received the honor. He also took home the hardware in 2003.

The Big Red leader had no idea he was even in the running for the award, but was honored none the less.

“They are nice honors … they really are,” said Fosselman. “It is humbling and just mind boggling. I got back in 1988 when I was interested in coaching soccer. If you surround yourself with good people, and that is what I try to do, good things usually happen.”

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