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Patriots pick up 4-0 triumph over Yellowjackets

By Kerry Patrick 4 min read

WILLIAMSTOWN - By no means was practicing against corner kicks the sole purpose for Williamstown in a high school girls soccer match against Parkersburg South on Tuesday.

Yet, that's how it played out as South attempted 11 set pieces in a 4-0 victory.

"I think we got to work on corners," Williamstown coach Maddi Leggett said as her team prepares for their regular-season finale at Morgan High School's senior night on Thursday. "Tonight, we got to work on the small things we needed moving into regionals. That's what we really needed going forward."

Coming off a scoreless tie and a one-goal defeat in the span of the previous five days, South received a pair of goals in both the first and second half. Mack Moles and Gwen Silvis assisted on one another's goals to put the Patriots in front 2-0 at halftime.

South's offense wasted little time responding in the second half. Barely a minute went by when Marie Silvis found Payton Sellers, who ripped a shot to the upper far corner for a 3-0 Patriot lead.

Gwen Silvis collected her second assist in an unselfish style midway through the second half. She gathered in a rebound near the left side of the goal and gave up possession with a lateral pass just in front of the net for Cate McLain, who had no problem angling the shot into the open net.

"We were getting some good switches on the field and working back through the defense then switching the field of play," South coach Ron Bucholtz said. "But we need to do it still a little more. We overcooked so many passes on potential through balls. It was unfortunate.

"Plus their keeper had a great game. She sure had a phenomenal game. She had five, six, seven really nice saves. On several, she deflected over the bar, and also made a couple of diving saves."

Coach Bucholtz was referring to Williamstown's freshman keeper Bella McCloy. Even though she allowed four goals, she earned high praise from the two respective coaches.

"In the beginning of the season, that's what Bella was doing," coach Leggett said. "She will contest to the fact there about the middle of the season she hit a rough patch and her confidence kind of knocked her a little bit.

"Tonight brought that confidence right back for her."

Williamstown moved to 5-10-1, while South improved to 13-4-3 following its regular-season finale. Later this week, the Patriots will learn their destination to open the postseason.

South senior captain Marie Silvis is hoping for similar results when she was a freshman on a team which advanced to the state championship match.

"This entire season, we have always shown up for each other," Silvis said. "There is no yelling on the field - you know, sometimes girls can yell at each other. We support each other and we lift each other up. I think that has really brought us through the season.

"Our younger girls like my sister Gwen along with Cate McLain are really stepping it up. I think we have a good shot making it to the final. Once we find out who we are playing and finding out their style, we will put a plan together to beat that, get behind their defense and just score."

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

At Williamstown High School

Parkersburg South 4, Williamstown 0

South (13-4-3) 2 2 - 4

WHS (5-10-1) 0 0 - 0

First Half

PS: Mack Moles (Gwen Silvis assist), 20:48

PS: Gwen Silvis (Mack Moles assist), 31:04

Second Half

PS: Payton Sellers (Marie Silvis assist), 41:26

PS: Cate McLain (Gwen Silvis assist), 59:31

Next Match: Williamstown at Morgan, 6:30 p.m., Thursday; Parkersburg South vs. TBA in Class AAAA tournament.

Starting at /week.