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Like Clockwork: Three first-half goals lift PHS past Cabell Midland

By Kerry Patrick 5 min read

PARKERSBURG - Days leading up to the start of Monday's Class AAAA South Regional quarterfinal soccer match against Cabell Midland, Parkersburg's Faithlyn Butch had a good feeling the Big Red offense would produce more effectively than their first meeting with the Knights early in the regular season.

The junior was spot on as PHS scored three goals in the first 20-plus minutes of the first half in a 4-0 win at Stadium Field. What the junior could not have foreseen was accounting for the first two goals and assisting on a second-half goal.

The second-seeded Big Reds, who defeated the Knights 1-0 back in late August, improve to 13-5-3 and will host third-seeded Oak Hill on Thursday with the winner advancing to the state tournament.

"Honestly, the difference was just in our practice - we were insanely locked in," Butcher said. "We kept pushing each other to the hardest in practice, and really focused on the little things to prepare us for this game."

PHS coach Jarric Hoskins touched on the slight adjustment in gameplanning for the Knights. The Big Reds had success creating plenty of scoring opportunities in the first meeting, but found the upright and crossbars a few too many times for his liking.

Seventh-seeded Cabell Midland ends the season at 12-7-2.

"We definitely wanted to come out a lot stronger - the emphasis was on ball movement and scoring. We put up a lot up front against their formation," Hoskins said. "We had great momentum in the first half and kind of maintained that lead. Coming out of halftime, it was good to get another one and kind of seal the game from there."

PHS welcomed back sophomore Addi Moon at keeper following a two-week absence due to a concussion she suffered in a match against Nitro on Oct. 6. In addition to turning in a clean slate, Moon showcased her athleticism.

With PHS leading 4-0 late in the second half, Cabell Midland's Olive Graham sprinted downfield with the possession with only Moon between her and the goal. Moon opted to cut down the angle and vacated the box then stuffed Graham's shot attempt.

"I was trying to get the ball away from her as soon as possible so she wouldn't dribble around me," Moon said. "It was really nerve wracking especially since this was my first game back. Health-wise, I'm feeling great. But tonight I think I owe my defenders a million dollars. Without them, I would stink.

"It will be so much better playing at home (Thursday) because I know the box and I know exactly how to move in it. I also know the goal."

The PHS offense was in ambush mode from the start. In the first three minutes, Cabell Midland keeper Grace Dailey managed to keep the match scoreless by recording a pair of saves.

Dailey was not so fortunate four minutes in when Butcher scored in front of the net following a pair of rebound stabs she inherited off when Emma Morris' initial shot bounced off the crossbar.

Moon did not see her first shot on frame until 16 minutes into the first half. One minute later with 23:10 showing on the clock, the Big Reds flipped the field as Butcher at just 5-foot-2 used a header off a corner kick to put her club in front 2-0.

"I think getting my vertical is from playing sports for so long," Butcher said. "I just kind of grew into it, having to jump so much. I think that just built my vertical.

"A few years ago, someone measured my vertical at like 22 inches. I don't want to know what it is now."

Only five minutes passed when PHS tacked on a third goal - this time on Layla Hill's free kick from just outside the box.

"Layla's ability to place the ball on frame from 35 to 40 yards is great for us," Hoskins said. "She can put shots on frame and we can crash forward. We didn't have to do it tonight, but she is really good at placing the ball. She plays with a lot of power."

In textbook fashion, PHS added an insurance goal in the second half as the result of a 2-on-1 fast break. From the right hash deep in Cabell in Midland territory, Butcher fed Reagan Ashley breaking down the middle. Ashley directed her shot to the right corner of the net to cap the scoring at 4-0 with 34:39 remaining in regulation.

"During one of our practices, we worked on transition and counterattack," Hoskins said. "The girls executed that perfectly. They realized we had numbers."

A month and a half ago, PHS traveled to Oak Hill for a Saturday afternoon game. The Big Reds won 2-1. The third-seeded Red Devils advanced to the regional semifinals by defeating Parkersburg South 4-1 on Monday.

"Oak Hill is going to play very hard, they are going to play very fast and look to play the ball through," Hoskins said. "Their best player is Bella Holly. From the film I've seen, they are really starting to get the players around her involved, too. The first time we played, they were kind of looking at specifically one person.

"She is a player who is competing for state player of the year. She was Gatorade Player of the Year last year, so we definitely have our work cut out for us. We played them very well the first time, so it will be a great matchup."

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

Class AAAA South Regional

Quarterfinal

Parkersburg 4, Cabell Midland 0

CM (12-7-2) 0 0 - 0

PHS (13-5-3) 3 1 - 4

First Half

PHS: Faithlyn Butcher, 35:55

PHS: Butcher, 23:10

PHS: Layla Hill, 19:40

Second Half

PHS: Reagan Ashley, 34:39

Next match: Class AAAA South Regional semifinal, Oak Hill at Parkersburg, Thursday

Starting at /week.