PARKERSBURG - Allyson Brezler's goal on a penalty kick early in the second half proved to be the difference as the Parkersburg South girls soccer team defeated Parkersburg 2-1 Monday at Erickson All-Sports Facility.
"Allyson has just been spot-on with those penalty kicks - she does very well in practice and is cool in those situations," South coach Ron Bucholtz said after his club won for the first time in five matches and improved to 4-5-2.
Several minutes later Parkersburg responded with a goal when Connie Chefren centered a pass for Avery West, who put it past South keeper Alexis Skinner to slice the deficit in half at 2-1. The Big Reds kept up the pressure for the final 26 minutes but could not force a tie like the one which resulted in the first meeting between the two schools earlier this season at Stadium Field.
Article Photos
Photos by Jeff Baughan
Parkersburg South's Alexis Skinner looks for a teammate to pass to after stopping a Parkersburg shot Monday as the Big Reds' Avery West follows. South scored a 2-1 victory with West scoring the Big Reds' lone goal.
"That was probably our worst game of the season, and you can't play like that when it's PHS against South and expect to win," PHS coach Kristen Schreiber said as her squad dropped to 7-3-2.
South struck first in the 26th minute of the first half when Emily Brezler made a run out of the backfield and found Kaitlyn Miller open for a goal past PHS keeper Taylor Beckley.
"Basically, it was the perfect shot and it just grazed off the post," Bucholtz said.
The Patriots nearly had two goals by intermission when Monica Stanwick's breakaway was denied by Beckley (3 saves).
"Taylor read it well and deflected the ball," Schreiber said. "She looked good tonight."
Skinner (4 saves) was just as impressive, which included making an impressive save late in the second half to preserve the win.
"She just stood on her head and made several nice saves," Bucholtz said. "That attempt late in the match, most people thought the shot was going to count when it was hit, but Alexis came flying across the goal to steer it away."
PHS will take a break from the schedule before resuming with a noon varsity match Saturday at Stadium Field against Cabell Midland.
"South really took it to us tonight and we were a little off tonight," Schreiber said. "Their keeper had another great game just like the first time out."
South gets right back at it today when it plays host to Elkins in a 5 p.m. varsity match only.
"The girls are just happy to get the monkey off their back," Bucholtz said.
