Marietta’s Grace Spencer (4) and Parkersburg’s Anna Floyd (33) battle for possession during Tuesday’s high school girls soccer match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG — “It’s huge!” – simply put by Parkersburg junior Hailey Warman, the Big Reds’ 2-1 win over Marietta in a high school girls soccer match, Tuesday night at Stadium Field.

With both sides familiar with one another through club soccer, the PHS contingent claimed bragging rights as Warman scored the game-tying goal midway into the first half and teammate Malaya Bowling shifted into the right place at the right time and scored the game-winner past the outstretched arms of a diving Marietta keeper with the clock hovering about 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

“I ran into the box kind of blindly and I just saw the ball coming towards me,” described Bowling on her goal off an assist from Camille Tatterson. “It was a little behind me, but I just reached for it, bounced off my knee and went top left corner.

“It was an amazing play all around.”

Marietta’s offense, which began the match averaging nearly seven goals, was on the attack throughout – dominating shots on goal by a 13-4 margin. That didn’t include the multitude of shots the Tigers sent off frame.

Marietta’s Campbell Stanley (36) keeps a Parkersburg defender behind her in pursuit for the loose ball during Tuesday’s high school girls soccer match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“We stopped ourselves,” Marietta coach Bill Mannix said. “We just did not have great shots tonight and we usually have some pretty good shots on frame. Tonight we just didn’t.”

Trailing by one goal in the final three minutes, the Tigers intensified the barrage of shots. During that span, three shots were fired from short range – the last finding PHS freshman keeper Addison Misel, who fumbled the attempt just enough to keep the ball out of the net as time expired.

“Addison played awesome tonight – she stepped up; that was a mature goalkeeping performance from her,” PHS coach Jarric Hoskins said. “Keeper is a new position for her. She has gotten so much better throughout the year. She studies the position and is understanding the feedback we give her.

“I am really excited about her career path going forward.”

The lone Marietta goal occurred at the 30:09 mark of the first half off one of three corner kicks attempted by the Tigers. Fiona Fowler’s kick toward the front of the goal was spot on for Grace Spencer, who scored her 19th goal of the season.

Parkersburg’s Anna Floyd (33) chases down Marietta’s Caroline Cortopassi (2) during Tuesday’s high school girls soccer match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

However, Mosso playing in her first season at the keeper position was up to the task and finished with 12 saves.

“Parkersburg did a nice job switching up their formations several times and it took us a few minutes to figure that out,” Mannix said. “We just have to go back to the drawing board and make sure we’re finishing our chances. Sometimes, soccer is a painful game. We had our chances and fought to the very end, which is important.”

Marietta entered the night having won eight straight, including the previous three by shutout. The Tigers (10-2-0) entertain Parkersburg South Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. in Devola.

For PHS, coming off a 2-0 loss against Hurricane last Thursday was a tough one to take, especially after the Big Reds had gone 3-0-1 in their previous four matches.

The win over Marietta puts PHS at 9-4-1 and does nothing but instill confidence for a roster which is still relatively young.

Parkersburg’s Hailey Warman (6) fends off a defender during Tuesday’s high school girls soccer match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I know the girls were really down after the loss to Hurricane, so it’s good to see that a win tonight can help momentum going forward,” Hoskins said.

Even players like Warman found a few takeaways from her performance. Her goal occurred as a result of a direct kick from the left sidelines just outside the box – a role she mentioned she has struggled with at times.

“Haley looked more confident in her run-up – she looked more relaxed,” Hoskins said. “She looked like she didn’t overthink it too much. She put it on target and it went in. And she really needed that.

“I’m really happy for her.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

Parkersburg’s Faithlyn Butcher (7) and Marietta’s Lauren Elliott (20) get tangled up during Tuesday’s high school girls soccer match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Marietta’s Annalise Spencer (15) makes a pass headed in the direction of Parkersburg’s Aelissa Stavrakis during (12) Tuesday’s high school girls soccer match at Stadium Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)