Parkersburg's Landen Deuley, who tallied his fourth hat trick of the season, settles the ball during Saturday afternoon's 3-2 victory versus Winfield at Stadium Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — Winfield rallied from a 2-0 deficit here Saturday afternoon at Parkersburg’s Stadium Field, but the Generals of head coach James Rader left town with a 3-2 setback after Big Red senior Landen Deuley provided the match-winner in the 53rd minute for his fourth hat trick of the season.

“Ollie (Oliver Cartwright) ripped the one and the keeper (Holden Williams) had a great save off the crossbar and our freshman Jack Hoye got a piece of it and it just, out of luck or whatever, it came right to me and I just binked it in with my head,” admitted Deuley.

“It was close. It was definitely on the line, but the ref said goal so we’ll take it. Maybe a little luck, but a goal is a goal so it’s fun. I love it. It’s my last year. I’ve played with all these kids forever now. We just come out here to have fun and a win on top of it is great, but I’m just having fun out here and scoring hat tricks is better with it.”

The Big Reds of head man Ben Jones, who were coming off a Mountain State Athletic Conference draw with Spring Valley, managed to beat first-half General keeper Jaxin Alexander twice in the opening half.

Just eight minutes in, Bo Moellendick sent a long pass ahead to Deuley, who was able to chip the ball above the head of a sprinting Alexander to make it 1-0.

Winfield's Thomas Dunlap chases after Parkersburg's Ben Chichester during the Generals' 3-2 setback Saturday afternoon at Stadium Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Cartwright had the ball near the corner of the Big Reds’ sideline in the 12th minute and sent it to an unmarked Deuley, who blistered one into the back of the net.

“That 2-0 is a tough score, you know. If you can get the third one it’s usually over, but if they can get one to bring it to 2-1 it’s right back into a war,” admitted coach Jones. “They did a great job coming back in the second half and making it a game at 2-2. Our boys stayed true. Spring Valley was a tough one. Gave up one very late. We gave one up with 30 seconds for it to be a tie and that’s why today was even more special.

“They came back and finished the game the way we wanted to, and this guy when he gets going he’s like Super Mario after eating the flower. He can do whatever and the team feeds off of him and he feeds off the team. It’s a special group. It’s that chemistry and playing for each other because you were doing the same thing when you were 8, 9, 10.”

Winfield, which slipped to 8-6-2 and welcomes in Parkersburg South at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, nearly had the equalizer in the 10th minute, but Brayden Wissler was denied his 12th goal of the campaign when his 28-yard direct kick went off the top of the right post.

The Generals, who watched a blazing shot from Braeden Mann get saved by Big Red keeper Phil Mixson’s diving stop in the 21st minute, had five of their eight corner kicks in the first half, but were unable to score.

Parkersburg's Oliver Cartwright was issued a yellow card after getting tangled up with Winfield keeper Holden Williams during the Big Reds' 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Stadium Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Parkersburg had a solid chance to make it 3-0 in the 36th minute, but A.J. Payne’s touch via an Evan Carte pass went off frame.

Mann finally got the visitors on the scoreboard in the 47th minute following a Big Red foul in the box that resulted in a penalty kick. Mann buried it into the lower left corner as Mixson guessed the other way.

Just two minutes later the match was even thanks to Brady Sutler’s assist to Alexander.

Prior to Deuley getting his hat trick, Big Red Joe Graziani had a good look but Williams was there for the save.

“We came up. I think the trip up, we left early this morning, 7 a.m., and I think they came out slow,” coach Rader said. “We were in our gameplan. They just didn’t wake up kind of until half. Then we got a really bad call down here on the end. Ref’s view was blocked and he called a goal in at the end and it beat us, but we can’t blame it on that.

Parkersburg's Toby Thompson heads the ball toward the goal during the Big Reds' 3-2 victory versus Winfield on Saturday afternoon at Stadium Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“We didn’t kind of move. We didn’t really get where we needed for a big chunk of the game. Parkersburg, give them credit. Great, great movement. Physical team. Played fast. Exactly what we had in our gameplan, but they worked. They worked, and good defense from them, and they earned it. They outplayed us.”

The Big Reds will carry a 7-6-1 mark into their 6 p.m. Tuesday match at University.

GIRLS

A pair of goals by Gracie Lively helped the Parkersburg girls claim a 3-1 victory over Buckhannon-Upshur Saturday at Stadium Field.

Malaya Bowling tallied two assists in the match, one to Lively and the other to Emma Morris.

Lively’s second goal was assisted by Reagan Ashley.

PHS keeper Addison Mosso notched five saves.