The Pocahontas County High School Lady Warriors soccer team played two sectional games the week of October 19 – the sectional semi-final and the sectional championship.
The team is in class AA/A, Region III, Section 1 along with Charleston Catholic, Midland Trail and Nicholas County.
The Lady Warriors played in the sectional semi-final at the Beckley Soccer Complex vs. Nicholas County October 21. This was an intense game ending in sudden-death in overtime.
• At half-time the Lady Warriors were ahead 1-0. They did not score in the second half, but Nicholas Coun-ty scored one goal to tie the game. Regulation time ended with a 1-1 tie sending the game into a 10-minute overtime period. With only a couple of minutes remaining, the Lady Warriors scored to win the game 2-1 and advance to the sectional championship.
• Scorers were forward Kelsi Taylor with an assist from forward Allyson Alderman, and Allyson Alderman with the “golden goal” on an assist from forward Mac-Kenna McKenny.
• Additional shots on goal were from forwards and midfielders Savannah Mc-Million, Rayna Smith, Emma Riffe and Hannah Burks, and defender Macaden Taylor.
• Defenders and midfielders, led by Hazel Riley, M. Taylor and Andrea Alderman, stole and/or cleared the ball out of the defensive field 48 times.
• Goalkeeper Sienna Bircher saved 16 goals, and allowed 1. She also came out of the goal for several steals, blocks and tackles to prevent additional shots on goal.
The Lady Warriors travelled back to the Beckley Soccer Complex to play in the sectional championship vs. Charleston Catholic October 24.
• At half-time the Lady Warriors were behind 0-3. The Lady Warriors played tough but remained scoreless in the second half while Charleston Catholic scored three more goals for a final score of 0-6 Charleston Catholic.
• Shot on goal was from forward Mackenna McKenney.
• Defenders and midfielders, led by Macaden Taylor, Allyson Alderman, Hazel Riley, Isabella Bauserman and Rayna Smith, stole and/or cleared the ball out of the defensive field 55 times.
• Goalkeeper Sienna Bircher saved a career and school game-high of 38 goals, and allowed six. She also completed the season with a career and school season-high of 244 saves.
Note: Charleston Catholic is a private school in a AAA school district and, as such, has dominated sectional play by winning the sectional championship for the last eight years. All other teams in the section (and region) are public schools in A or AA school districts.
The Lady Warriors’ ended their 2020 season with a record of 5 wins, 0 ties, and 6 losses. The team had 3 shut-outs, scored 27 goals, saved 244, and allowed 25.
Congratulations to the Lady Warriors on a very successful season! And special thanks to Coach Shannon Arbogast, Assistant Coach Justin Dilley, the Lady Warriors’ faithful fans, and everyone in the community who supported the Lady Warriors throughout this unusual season.