Photo by Jay W. Bennett Parkersburg South’s Erin Riesbeck looks to make a pass while being guarded by Hurricane’s Lauren Dye during the Patriots’ 3-0 Class AAA, Region IV, Section 2 victory Wednesday night at Erickson All-Sports Facility.

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg South moved one step closer to the state tournament following a 3-0 triumph versus Hurricane here Wednesday evening at the Erickson All-Sports Facility during the Class AAA, Region IV, Section 2 championship match.

The two programs had just played on Sept. 18 at the EASF and finished with a 0-0 draw.

It appeared as though the Redskins of head coach Shelly Young, who finished the campaign at 13-3-5, would head to intermission with a 0-0 score. However, Patriot senior Samara Nunn had other ideas, and with nine seconds left in the 39th minute, she took a feed from Adi Altizer and beat HHS keeper Maddie Willis for the only goal head coach Ron Bucholtz’ program ended up needing.

Hurricane’s only shot on goal came in the 16th minute via a direct kick from Avery Hale, but it was saved by Mackenzie Mott, who entered the match at 37:40 of the first half for starting keeper Ashlyn Limer.

“It was obviously building,” noted Bucholtz, whose squad will carry an 18-2-2 mark into next Thursday’s regional championship at Ripley versus the Cabell Midland/Huntington victor. “We missed a couple good chances in the first, and we had a couple good chances in the second.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game of soccer because we knew they were going to bring a physical presence, you know. They played a hard physical game against us, and it kind of took us out of the rhythm of a good possession game. We still had some nice moments in possession. A couple scary moments, they put a little pressure on us, and we mishandled a couple balls.”

Hurricane fans thought they had the equalizer at the end of the 48th minute when Mady Jo Lunsford got the ball ahead to Aleya Assi, who chipped it into the goal. The Redskins were called for offsides.

Patriot freshman Livy Henderson found herself with the ball in the 67th minute outside the hash in front of her own bench. She launched a shot across the field and into the far left corner to make it 2-0.

“Livy’s goal pretty much put it away,” added the coach. “Our girls had good intensity. We stuck to the game plan and defended them soundly for the most part.”

With 29 ticks to go in the 70th minute, Altizer got a through up ahead to fellow ninth grader Jozy Barton, who dribbled toward the keeper and then beat her inside the near left post.

Nunn had a chance in the 11th minute after taking a pass from Regan Shockey, but her shot was wide. In the 20th minute, a through ball by Riley Shockey to Nunn went just long. Two minutes later, Regan Shockey had a cross that was headed wide by Hadley Freshour.

Hurricane’s only corner came in the 13th minute by Hale. The Patriots’ lone corner was taken by Cameron Limer in the 47th minute. Willis, who finished with a trio of saves, made a diving one on a boot by Barton in the 46th minute.

“I’m very pleased with how the girls played. How can I not be,” continued coach Bucholtz, who noted junior midfielder Ava Barton is still week-to-week. “It was zero, zero a few weeks ago. They are a good team.

“We knew it was going to be a tight affair coming in. We hope (to get Barton back for next Thursday). Time will tell. We beat them (CMHS/HHS) both, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com