MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The weather wasn’t perfect at Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium on Tuesday night when the Class AAA No. 6 University High girls’ soccer team hosted No. 1 Parkersburg South, but both teams managed to play anyway.
While both teams were unbeaten, the Patriots had 10 wins under their belt, while the Hawks had been shut down after just two victories earlier this season.
To be sure, the effort was in place from the opening whistle for UHS, but the combination of a three-week gap in play and practice combined with the superior play of a strong, deep and talented Park South team led to a 3-0 defeat for the homestanding Hawks.
After an early feeling-out period, the Patriots began to take control through the midfield, although the UHS back wall remained stout, surrendering few shots of any type or quality.
However, the Hawks had difficulty completing passes, and their counter attack opportunities were rare. Still, the game remained scoreless and even in competitiveness until a break led to Park South’s first goal in the 30th minute.
A UHS foul led to a Patriots free kick, and a low, dipping shot got past UHS keeper Lizzy Edwards and trickled toward the end line — where Ellie Foggin beat everyone to the loose ball and easily deposited the goal.
The Hawks looked to ramp up their intensity on 50/50 balls early in the second half, but they were plagued by passing inefficiencies and slow reaction times, compared to the far more battle-tested Patriots.
As the weather shifted to a full downpour, another unlucky bounce hurt the Hawks.
In the 52nd minute, a header by speedy forward Karleigh Dowler — who had nearly capitalized on a long counter break minutes earlier — slipped under Edwards and trickled across the goal line to double the advantage.
The clincher came off the foot of talented sophomore Samara Nunn in the 60th minute. Dangerous on the ball all evening, Nunn received an angled pass, opened up a sliver of space to her right and cracked a low, bending shot that deflected off the right post and in. The goal was a fitting capper to Park South’s deserving victory.
Despite the score and the rain, drenched but upbeat UHS coach Graham Peace could only see positives.
“It was just great to be back out there on our home turf, especially getting a chance to face a great team like Parkersburg South,” he said. “They deserve their ranking, and they were the better team tonight, no question. But I am very, very happy with the way we played tonight — our effort, our spirit, our tenacity. The defensive effort, especially in the first half, was great against some of the best forwards in the state. And just about everything we struggled with — connecting on passes, anticipation, fitness level — was due in large part to being off the field for the past three weeks.
“So those things will come,” he continued, “and I’d love to face these guys again after we’ve knocked the rust off.”
The Hawks continue to catch up on their schedule at 6 p.m. Tuesday, as they host rival Morgantown.
