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Lineup intact, Parkersburg Big Reds secure MSAC win

By Jay W. Bennett 4 min read

PARKERSBURG --Sophomore Griffin Peters got things going with his first career goal, senior Jaydon Fluharty found the back of the net twice and freshman keeper Skarin Welch almost worked a clean slate during Parkersburg's 4-1 Mountain State Athletic Conference victory versus Spring Valley on Saturday at Stadium Field.

First-year PHS head coach Ben Jones was excited to see his team improve to 2-4-2 with rival Parkersburg South set to cross the Little Kanawha River for an 8 p.m. varsity only Tuesday match, but more importantly he was amped to get junior Aiden Matthews back in the lineup.

"Once we settled down and started moving the ball instead of just looking direct everything started to unfold for us," admitted Jones, whose squad went ahead for good in the 21st minute when Ben Chichester assisted on Peters' goal.

"This game, really, was about staying healthy and getting this guy back (Matthews). He means so much to this team and what he's gone through to get here gives me goosebumps."

Peters had a hand in making a 2-0 affair when he collected his first career assist on junior Oliver Cartwright's goal with 11:11 remaining in the half.

The Timberwolves of head coach Chris Railey, who received 10 saves from keeper Kyle Simerman, trailed 3-0 at intermission when Fluharty put one home following a throw-in from Jay Bowling.

Spring Valley's only two shots on goal in the opening 40 minutes were by Levi Yeoman.

Just two seconds into the 46th minute the Big Reds struck again. Following a foul on SVHS, Fluharty lined up for a 20 yard free kick in front of the PHS bench. He ended up going nearside upper 90 to just beat Simerman.

"Beautiful. Beautiful," coach Jones said of Fluharty's second tally. "The way he posted it looked like he was sending a cross in, which sent the goalie leaning in the opposite direction and it was beautiful. A great shot."

Spring Valley produced more offensive pressure in the second half and finally broke through with 10 ticks left in the 67th minute when John Henry Stepp was able to head the ball into the net and avert the shutout.

"That first ball he needed to call and get that first ball before we headed it into the air," coach Jones added. "After that it's tough for a freshman to fight that battle with everyone coming downhill on you.

"It's just something we gotta clean up a little bit in the back. Besides that, man, we had the shutout and Aiden is a huge part of it. I can't say enough about how this kid practices, plays and the training I saw him doing."

Matthews said he suffered the knee injury last October against Wheeling Park and didn't have surgery until late November.

"It's been almost 11 months," Matthews said. "I was just happy to be back honestly. I was so happy to be back. I love soccer so much and I just miss the game and everyone I play with.

"I think we're starting to get our team back together and once that happens I think we'll do really good. I think our team has really good chemistry and we all have been playing with each other since first grade. We all just know each other."

Big Red junior Landen Deuley had a trio of early shots on goal, but couldn't get one past Simerman. PHS senior Quinton Wright also had a couple of chances during the match, but was turned away.

SVHS nearly had a second goal in the 71st minute when Duke Elkins blistered one toward the post, but Welch made a fully extended diving save to his right.

The Timberwolves, who slipped to 1-4 and play host at 6 p.m. Tuesday to St. Albans, also had shots on goal turned away by Welch in the second half from Stepp, Yeoman and Ashtyn Hardesty.

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