Point Pleasant keeper Lindsey Hacker grabs the ball as Williamstown’s Macy Phelps (14) tries to make a play near the net during Thursday’s high school girls soccer match at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

WILLIAMSTOWN – Williamstown learned a valuable lesson in its return season to high school girls soccer.

Fresh off an impressive win over Ripley on Tuesday, the Yellowjackets took a step backwards after losing 4-0 on Thursday to a Point Pleasant outfit which was still searching for its first win of the season.

“None of what was on the field was us,” Williamstown coach Maddi Leggett said after her team slipped to 3-4-1. “The girls knew they deserved to win that game against Ripley. Tonight, I think they looked at Point Pleasant’s record and kind of thought it was going to be an easy game

“They saw what happens when you don’t show up. It was a lesson learned. They know they have to show up for every game now. They don’t get a choice.”

Graduation took a toll on a Point Pleasant roster entering the current season. The Big Blacks dealt with a tough schedule to boot. Minus the seniors on the roster who had played in the state tournament the past three seasons, coach Chris Errett has been working with a roster without any juniors or sophomores, and a slew of freshmen newcomers.

Williamstown’s Hayley Perkins (22) works against two Point Pleasant players for possession of the ball during Thursday’s high school girls soccer match in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The Big Blacks improved to 1-8-2.

“The girls have taken their lumps, but they have learned a lot,” Errett said. “I think half of our team has never played before. The first half of the season has been getting experience – learning the mistakes the hard way.

“We knew coming into the season it was going to take time to develop that experience. We’re starting to settle down and figure things out a little bit .I’m proud of the girls for just sticking with it every game.”

Point Pleasant controlled the pace for the majority of the first half – attempting 11 shots as opposed to zero for Williamstown.

Within the first 10 minutes of the match, freshman Lola Tolliver scored Point Pleasant’s first two goals. The second goal resulted off an assist from Alexa Tolliver at the 31:19 mark of the first half.

Williamstown’s Savannah Schofield (12) and Point Pleasant’s Lola Tolliver (4) battle for a loose ball near the sidelines during Thursday’s high school girls soccer match in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Point Pleasant’s designated player for corner kicks, senior Keira Tatterson, continued her magic with her left foot. With one goal already to her credit coming off a corner kick this season, Tatterson pulled off two more against the Yellowjackets.

Leading 3-0 in the second half, Tatterson found a bit of help from some jostling inside the box near the keeper. Her second corner kick of the match once again found the inside of the crease for a 4-0 advantage and 11:34 remaining in regulation.

Asked about the art of corner kicks and having such success, Tatterson replied: “Being left footed. Taking them on the right side works every time. My teammates are marking up really well, and they are using their bodies to try and shield the girls out of the way, so it helps me a little bit.

“That second one may have skipped off somewhere with all the spin. It just went right in. Got a little help.”

Stat-wise, Williamstown picked up its game after halftime and put four shots on net – only to be turned away each time by senior Lindsey Hacker at keeper.

Williamstown’s Kaidence Perdue (16) tries to keep possession against Point Pleasant’s Isabella Deel (23) during Thursday’s high school girls soccer match in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“That second half was a quarter of what our girls can look like,” Leggett said. “We came out Tuesday, played like us and beat a pretty good team. Tonight at intermission, I got on them a little bit.”

Leggett gave the girls Friday off before returning to practice to prepare for their next match next Wednesday at Tyler Consolidated.

“I’ll let tonight’s match simmer,” Leggett added. “All I asked of them is to go back and watch this game – watch the difference what they did at Ripley and what they didn’t do tonight.

“Point Pleasant was a team that showed they wanted it and we showed up acting like we didn’t want it. So they learned what it’s going to take. They have to show up every night.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

Williamstown’s Quinn Bunch (4) received a pass during Thursday’s high school girls soccer match at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)