Parkersburg South’s Jozy Barton tries to keep control of the ball while being pressured by Hurricane’s Avery Hale as Redskin Sara Toothman (15) and Patriot Anniya Powell (1) look on during Saturday morning’s match inside Erickson All-Sports Facility. Barton assisted on teammate Adrienne Altizer’s goal in the 79th minute to help lift Parkersburg South to a 1-0 victory.
(Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
PARKERSBURG — Two of the top Class AAA programs in the state matched up Saturday morning inside the Erickson All-Sports Facility and host Parkersburg South managed to pull out a key 1-0 victory against Hurricane.
The Redskins of head coach Shelly Young, who dropped to 10-1-1 and play host at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Parkersburg, dominated possession in the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Parkersburg South head coach Ron Bucholtz’ squad, which improved to 11-1-1 with a Class 5A OVAC semfinal showdown coming at 5 p.m. Thursday back inside the EASF, didn’t have a shot on goal in the first half.
PSHS finally broke through against keeper Kayleigh Triplett with 13 seconds gone in the 79th minute.
“Regan (Shockey) hit it to Jozy (Barton) and they were going down the field and I overlapped on the outside and Jozy slotted it to me,” said Patriot Adrienne Altizer of her match-winner.
Parkersburg South’s Regan Shockey knocks the ball out of play and away from Hurricane’s Sara Toothman during the Patriots’ 1-0 victory Saturday morning at Erickson All-Sports Facility.
(Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
“It was wide open because they pulled all the players to the side. We pulled it together in the second half and really brought up the intensity from the first half.”
Owens, who made nine saves to earn a clean slate, turned away Lilly Lucas twice in the first half and also made saves on Kendall Pyle and Kendall Anderson. Anderson was denied a goal via a header in the 61st minute and Owens also made a save with her gloves on a blistering shot during the 73rd minute by Rylyn Bielinski.
“It was just intense. It was really just reading the ball,” Owens said of getting the shutout.
“It was good to see it (Altizer’s goal) go in. It just made me feel a lot better and took some relief off.”
Avery Hale attempted all seven corner kicks for the Redskins, who watched Patriot Livy Henderson clear one out in the 34th minute.
Parkersburg South’s Adrienne Altizer, pictured here being defended by Hurricane’s Lilly Lucas, scored the Patriots’ lone goal in the 79th minute during a 1-0 victory Saturday morning at Erickson All-Sports Facility.
(Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
A Hale corner in the 45th minute was cleared out of harm’s way thanks to a header by Patriot Camryn McLain.
Barton had two chances around the 63rd minute. Triplett came out from the goal to stop one shot, but a header by Carly Fife saved the ball from going in. The Redskin Anderson also had to utilize a header to keep the ball away from what was an open net.
Avery French was left unmarked in the middle of the field during the 69th minute, but the shot from the Redskin drilled the center of the crossbar.
“They are obviously a very good team. They weren’t ranked second in the state for nothing coming into this game,” said coach Bucholtz. “They got a lot of good athletes and some good soccer players. We might have been fortunate to survive the first half. They had plenty of good chances. Emilee was there when she needed to be and a few of them they just misfired on. We could’ve been in a big hole in the first half. It was a lot of pressure on our girls. I think second half, obviously, we got our act together a little bit better, and I think that was a game where fitness really showed.
“Our fitness started to take control of the game and we started to get some pressure on their end of the field, and their defense wasn’t as crisp and as fast. We were able to get the pressure. We had some glorious chances. They had some beautiful defensive plays with a couple clearances off the line. This is kind of like a turnaround from last year. Last year they snuck one in on us on a free kick with about a 1:30 left and we returned the favor this year.”
Contact Jay Bennett at [email protected]
