Parkersburg’s Peyton Louden (5) holds the plaque after the Big Reds captured the Mountain State Athletic Conference championship with Thursday’s 2-1 win over George Washington at Stadium Field. Standing left of Louden is PHS Keeper Kaleigh Rexroad. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG — One member of the Parkersburg girls soccer team — who shall remain nameless — counted on her fingers to do the math to determine how old she was the last time the Big Reds won a Mountain State Athletic Conference championship.

Thursday night at Stadium Field, the Big Reds scored one goal just before halftime and added another midway in the second half and held on to defeat George Washington 2-1 in the finals of the MSAC championship match.

Current PHS players were still in elementary school when PHS defeated Winfield in the MSAC title match in 2015 – the same year Winfield defeated the Big Reds in the state finals.

“As a 6- or 7-year-old I could have never imagined winning a MSAC title,” said PHS sophomore Hailey Warman, who scored off an assist from Kayla Marlow with six-tenths of a second remaining in the first half. “This means everything. It feels really good to have one.”

After suffering its first defeat of the season Monday in a 3-0 loss at Herbert Hoover, PHS (13-1-2) answered back thanks to keeper Kaleigh Rexroad, who received the ultimate kudos from opposing coach Ali Sadeghian.

Parkersburg keeper Kaleigh Rexorad (0) saves a shot on goal as teammate Reagan Ashley, right, and George Washington’s Deryn Doamkepor (15) watch the ball approach the net during Thursday’s MSAC championship match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

GW slipped to 13-4-0 despite pelting Rexroad with competitive shots on goal throughout the first half. Thursday’s outcome was identical to a regular season match between the two schools on Sept. 11.

“Their goal keeper is the best in the state,” Sadeghian said. “That kid saved both games for them. She saved the first game. She saved tonight’s game. You can’t take anything from them. We played our butt off and it was a great effort by our girls, but we couldn’t score.”

Between Deryn Doamkepor and Shelby Tharp, the Patriots kept the pressure continuous only to be denied by Rexroad. Rexroad admitted being a bit nervous the previous day, but she mentioned she got a solid eight hours of sleep overnight and was able to let Monday’s outcome become irrelevant.

“The game Monday was a little rough, but we definitely got it back together today,” Rexroad said. “We have off games. That happens. It’s the sport. But we came back and we were mad, and we played pretty good. That’s all that matters.”

Two key injuries during the match didn’t help matter for GW. With the clock ticking under the 11-minute mark in the first half, Doamkepor maintained possession deep into PHS territory. The ball rolled past the end line for a goal kick, and Doamkepor came up gimpy. She slowly made her way off the field and never returned.

Parkersburg’s Brooklyn LeMaster (13) and Jadyn Colgrove (middle) defend George Washington’s Ellie Pray (16) during Thursday’s MSAC championship match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Midway into the second half, Emma Cipoletti suffered a leg injury and had to be carried off the field.

“Injuries to our star players – that was an issue,” said Sadeghian, who was also without the services of one of his starting stoppers. “When they go out, we don’t have the deep bench to come out with experience. It’s part of the game.”

GW may have controlled the tempo throughout the first half, but PHS took the 1-0 lead into halftime when the connection of Marlow passing to Warman and the ensuing kick before time expired found a gap between the GW keeper and the crossbar.

The scoreboard was to the Big Reds’ back. The players had somewhat of an idea how much time remained since teammate Gracie Lively had just attempted a corner kick.

“It was a last effort to try and score,” Warman said. “I had seen there wasn’t much time left and I knew we needed something. I wasn’t sure (if it beat the clock). I was just hoping.”

Parkersburg’s Audriana Medina, far right, and several George Washington players watch Medina’s shot on goal during Thursday’s MSAC championship match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Marlow followed the same formula as Warman for a second goal at the 26:03 mark of the second half. The ball found the upper half of the goal just above the keeper’s reach.

“(GW) was leaving the entire right side of the field open,” Malow said. “I saw (Claire) had the ball and I was open, so I just called for the ball and had a wide open shot.”

PHS coach Jarric Hoskins knew GW keeper Oriah Allen had good hands, so part of the approach on shots was to aim high and off center.

“Both shots were placed high and more towards one side, and had to make the keeper move a bit,” Hoskins said. “They have a very good keeper, so those were two big shots placed very well.”

The only GW player to get one past Rexroad was Madison Rodwell, who scored on a free kick at the 12:08 mark of the second half.

“Kaleigh saved two goals in the first half – there was one I felt she stopped right before the line and that was with one hand,” Hoskins said. “She stepped up huge for us in the first half, especially when they had momentum in the first 30 minutes. I thought we kind of controlled it a little better in the last 10, but in the first 40 she was getting pelted with shots.

“After Monday, I know Kayleigh was a little critical of herself. It was good to see her block that game, and come up and make some huge saves for us tonight.”

The Big Reds still have some major tests left in the regular season, including Saturday afternoon at Marietta, but for the time being they will enjoy this MSAC title.

“This is great for us,” Hoskins said. “I talked with the girls this week, before the season even started we weren’t sure what we had. They earned the opportunity to play in this game, and they earned the win tonight. It’s great for their confidence. I couldn’t be happier for them.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com