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Second half splurge carries PHS past Huntington, 3-1

By Kerry Patrick 4 min read

PARKERSBURG - There's a difference between being confident and bragging. Hailey Warman was proud about her performance without going over the top.

The senior midfielder from Parkersburg High School earned the right to smile in the team's postgame talk after she scored two second half goals in the Big Reds' 3-1 win over Huntington, Thursday night at Stadium Field.

"The goals I had tonight are things that I have struggled with in the past," said Warman, who headed in the game's first goal off a corner kick then put PHS in front 2-0 on a penalty kick. "I usually don't make my PKs and I'm usually not backside (on our set pieces). But that's something they've been drilling and practicing."

PHS bounced back from having dropped its past two matches - improving to 5-2-1 and remaining unbeaten in the Mountain State Athletic Conference at 5-0. Huntington dropped to 7-3 and 2-3 in the league.

The two sides played to a scoreless tie in the first half. PHS broke through first on Warman's header off a corner kick from Aelissa Stravakis at the 30:23 mark of the second half.

"Toward the end of the first half, we started playing more comfortably," PHS coach Jarric Hoskins said. "The girls adjusted to the physicality and the speed of the game. At halftime, we saw some things that were open, some opportunities that we weren't necessarily taking advantage of. But we adjusted in the second half.

"That was a great set piece (with Stavrakis to Warman). That's the first one for us this season."

On several occasions, PHS attackers managed to track down a through ball and have as many as three defenders trying to chase them down. Even though the Huntington keeper was up to the task on shots fired, there happened to be one incident where the Big Reds were rewarded for their effort.

Faithlyn Butcher had possession as she gained access inside the box then was tripped up before she could test the keeper. A foul was called on the Highlanders and Warman converted the penalty kick and gave PHS a 2-0 lead with 26:42 remaining in regulation.

"We had a couple of really good opportunities created on those through balls," Hoskins said.

Huntington returned the favor with a conversion of a set piece at 15:55 and sliced the deficit in half. The score originated with a shot attempt which air mailed the cross bar of the goal post behind the net. A PHS player got a piece of the ball and the Highlanders were awarded a corner.

A steady rain started to fall midway into the second half then developed into a downpour with less than five minutes left on the clock.

The conditions didn't seem to faze either side. Both teams managed one goal during that span, including one from Emma Morris. Dribbling down the sidelines in Huntington territory, she attempted a centering pass but the ball was deflected right back to her. Her reaction was spot on as she immediately sent a shot into the back of the net.

With 12:06 still left in the second half, PHS led 3-1.

"There is a lot of talent on this team, especially with our younger players - it really shows in these games," Warman said.

Huntington was hit with a red card and played a man down for the final 12 minutes.

"In the second half, you could start to see confidence - especially after the first goal," Hoskins said. "Our defense did an amazing job. Huntington did not have a lot of opportunity in that sense. They are very direct in their attack.

"In the first half, they were giving us a lot of fits. BUt in the second half, we stayed more compact and were aware of where they were at."

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

High School Girls Soccer

At Stadium Field

Parkersburg 3, Huntington 1

HHS (7-3, 2-3 MSAC) 0 1 - 1

PHS (5-2-1, 5-0 MSAC) 0 3 - 3

Second Half Scoring

PHS: Hailey Warman (Aelissa Stavrakis assist), 30:23

PHS: Warman (penalty kick), 26:42

H: N/A, 15:55

PHS: Emma Morris, 12:06

Next match: Huntington at East Carter, 11 a.m. Saturday; Parkersburg at Oak Hill, noon Saturday

Starting at /week.