PHS boys soccer brings back experience

PARKERSBURG -- A new season brings high expectations for second-year Parkersburg High School head boys soccer coach Billy Shedd.

The Big Reds are coming off a 7-9-3 campaign during 2020 and welcome back a plethora of experience.

"It wasn't quite the normal season," Shedd admitted. "I had the schedule set last year and I was ready to go and then all that stuff all kind of blew up in my face. I'm excited to actually have a full regular season.

"I'm excited about what we can do. We've changed things around a little bit. I think it's from just what the kids can do. What they need to work on. I learned a lot last year even though it was kind of crazy."

Sophomore Aiden Merritt, last year's junior varsity keeper, is expected to start between the pipes when the Big Reds open their season at 11 a.m. Saturday (1 p.m. JV start) when Princeton invades Stadium Field. Foreign exchange student Mattei Campari, a senior, is still a couple practices short from being eligible.

"We've been pounding on foot skills and passing and today we are working on finishing just because we had a little trouble finishing the other day," added the coach, who is being assisted by Chris Hunt, Derek Manner and Joe Gribble.

"We've been pounding home foot skills, passing, moving and endurance so we should be good to go until the end of the game."

Parkersburg's 10 returning lettermen are seniors Grant Miller (D), Tanner Minnite (D), Terrance Wright (W/MF), Kota Butcher (S), Tristan Brogan (W/MF), Riley Smith (D), junior Tanner Marlow (W/S) and sophomores Landon Shedd (MF), Connor Gribble (MF) and Brayden Dueley (D).

"Offensively, you know, we are running a little bit different style this year," coach Shedd noted. "We got three guys up front with Kota, Terrance and Tristan so hopefully we'll score a little bit more goals this year.

"Defensively, we are just as strong. We have four seniors in the back. We got Grant Miller and Sammy McCale in the middle of the defense and guys on the outside are just as good because you got guys like Riley Smith and Tanner Minnite."

Also vying for playing time are juniors VJ Post (D/MF), Bryce Henthorn (W/MF), Adam Aucoin (W/MF), Austyn Ervin (W/MF), sophomores Sam Chichester (D), Joseph Nguyen (S/MF), Austin Keyse (D/MF), Gabe Cantwell (MF), James Strothers (S/MF) and Brayden Tingler (S/MF) along with freshmen Quenton Wright (MF), Jacob Blair (W/MF), Jacob Province (D) and Jaydon Fluharty (W/GK).

"We've been working on endurance all year long," added the coach. "Hopefully, we won't lose a game in the last 10, 15 minutes. We lost a couple last year like that. Hopefully, it won't happen again this year. Hopefully, we are mentally and physically ready for our opponents. We always tell the guys to keep it simple.

"Don't try to beat the world. You got teammates, pass and move and find the space. We always preach keep it simple and keep it compact. We are trying to embrace this and have some fun. I think the guys are buying into it and we have a really great group of guys. I'm excited. I'd love to see us make a run at it."

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

2021 Parkersburg Big Reds Boys Soccer

Head coach: Billy Shedd, 2nd year

Assistant coaches: Chris Hunt, Derek Manner, Joe Gribble

Last year: 7-9-3

Roster

Seniors

2 Grant Miller (D), 4 Tanner Minnite (D), 7 Terrance Wright (W/MF), 10 Kota Butcher (S), 14 Sammy McCale (D), 25 Tristan Brogan (W/MF), 31 Riley Smith (D), Mattei Campari (GK)

Juniors

5 VJ Post (D/MF), 16 Bryce Henthorn (W/MF), 17 Nick Malm (W/S), 19 Adam Aucoin (W/MF), 20 Austyn Ervin (W/MF), 30 Tanner Marlow (W/S), 32 Zane Jackson (S)

Sophomores

3 Sam Chichester (D), 9 Landon Shedd (MF), 11 Connor Gribble (MF), 12 Aiden Merritt (GK), 13 Joseph Nguyen (S/MF), 22 Brayden Dueley (D), 23 Austin Keyse (D/MF), 26 Gabe Cantwell (MF), 27 James Strothers (S/MF), 33 Brayden Tingler (S/MF)

Freshmen

6 Quenton Wright (MF), 15 Jacob Blair (W/MF), 18 Jacob Province (D), 37 Jaydon Fluharty (W/GK)

Schedule

Aug. 21: Princeton, 11 a.m. (1 p.m. JV)

Aug. 24: at Capital, 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. JV)

Aug. 26: Huntington, 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. JV)

Aug. 28: at Bridgeport, 10 a.m (noon JV)

Aug. 31: at Riverside, 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. JV)

Sept. 4: Cabell Midland, Noon (10 a.m. JV)

Sept. 9: Ripley, 6 p.m.

Sept. 11: Spring Valley, 11 a.m. (1 p.m. JV)

Sept. 14: at Parkersburg South, TBD

Sept. 16: at South Charleston, 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. JV)

Sept. 18: Warren, noon (10 a.m. JV)

Sept. 21: at St. Albans, TBD

Sept. 23: Woodrow Wilson, 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. JV)

Sept. 25: George Washington, 5 p.m. (3 p.m. JV)

Sept. 28: Hurricane, 8 p.m. (6 p.m. JV)

Oct. 2: at Greenbrier East, 2 p.m. (noon JV)

Oct. 5: at Wheeling Park, 6 p.m. (8 p.m. JV)

Oct. 7: at MSAC, TBD

Oct. 12: Morgantown, 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. JV)

Oct. 14: at Linsly, 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. JV)