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PHS, South boys play to 1-1 draw

By Kerry Patrick 5 min read

PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg South had just run through a gauntlet of matches. Parkersburg started a lineup consisting of five sophomores and three freshmen.

Yet the intensity of a high school boys soccer match between the two rival schools didn't lose its luster from years past Tuesday night at Stadium Field.

Both schools scored a first-half goal and even though the respective keepers turned in a clean slate in the second half, plenty of physical play was exchanged from both sides. Over the final 40 minutes, both schools were assessed a pair of yellow cards.

The 1-1 tie left South with a record of 1-6-1. The Patriots definitely earned an upcoming break which won't see the Patriots in action for another nine days.

"We were coming off four games against the top four teams in the (Mountain State Athletic Conference) and some of the top 10 teams in the state," said South head coach Rick George. "We knew we had an opportunity against a young PHS team. Credit to the coaching staff at PHS. They have their young boys playing well.

"With these rivalry games, sometimes emotions get away from them a little bit. And we had a little bit of that as well. But I applaud my guys' effort. They kept fighting for 80 minutes, and that's something we've been harping on all season."

PHS, which will exchange places with their female counterparts and cheer from the stands when the Big Reds meet Parkersburg South in a girls soccer match on Thursday at Stadium Field, move to 3-5-2.

"This is kind of what you expect in this rivalry game -- both teams came out and played super, super hard," PHS coach Ben Jones said. "It almost turned into a battle rather than a soccer game. There was not a whole lot of flow to it. Every time you try to get something going, there's a foul and a stoppage in play.

"So it was a little different type of game than we like to play. South did a great job bringing energy, and we matched that."

Not part of the starting lineup but an integral part of the rotation, PHS freshman Sam Hoye put the Big Reds on the board with a goal at the 19:47 mark of the first half. Thanks to an assist from teammate Conor Hyer.

"My teammate Conor Hyer played a beautiful ball over the top for me," Hoye said. "It was bouncing. I didn't have time to take a touch. One tap and it hopped in."

Hoye was all for adding extra time to decide a winner.

"I think that would have been a better choice because all of our seniors really wanted to win this," Hoye said. "I'm kind of sad I couldn't win it for them."

The equalizer occurred just before halftime. The sequence originated with South captain Aidan Garrett finding Lincoln Wilson sprinting down the middle of the field and gaining access to the box. The PHS keeper stepped away from the net in an attempt to cut down the angle, but Wilson slid the shot attempt into an open area for the score and a 1-1 tie with 1:08 showing on the clock.

"We have been working a lot on possession in practice," George said. "It was better at times tonight, and then sometimes the emotions got the better of us and we played a little bit of kick and chase. In a tie, neither team is happy, but I'm happy with the 80 minutes of effort I got out of my guys.

"We went through those four games where we showed a lot of promise.The kids have to learn if you shut off mentally for a minute then there's the likelihood you are going to get scored on. Especially against the good teams. We did some really good things against some really good teams. We just have to put it all together."

Some of those same upper-tier programs from MSAC remain on the Big Red schedule going forward. Coach Jones figures put the kids on the pitch and learn on the fly.

"We graduated 14 seniors last year -- a few of the guys we have back got a little bit of time, but nothing substantial," Jones said. "One of our strengths going forward this year is that we are able to rotate these guys. There really is no time to adapt or grow up. Let's play and see some of our results. Some games we play great. Then there are going to be off nights."

South keeper Reid Calvert started and played the entire match, while Carter Stevens and Daniel Braniff each played one half for the Big Reds.

"This rivalry game with South is just a battle - they are always close," Jones said. "Finishing in a tie, you feel in a weird space."

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

At Stadium Field, Parkersburg

Parkersburg 1, Parkersburg South 1

South 1 0 - 1

PHS 1 0 - 1

First Half Scoring

PHS: Sam Hoye (Conor Hyer assist), 19:47

South: Lincoln Wilson (Aidan Garrett assist), 1:08

Next match: Spring Valley at Parkersburg, 11 a.m. Saturday; Parkersburg South at Ripley, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24

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