Published: October 31, 2008 12:47 am      

Williamson makes plays in Warriors’ win

EAST RIVER — In the most even of games, a special effort by a single player can make the difference.

Thursday night that effort came from Morgan Williamson. Her two second-half goals propelled the Pocahontas County Warriors to a 3-2 win over the PikeView Panthers in the Class AA/A Region III championship game at the East River Soccer Complex.

“This was a high-scoring affair at 3-2,” Pocahontas County coach Mike Burns said. “I knew it was going to be tough. Any time you play one of Sam Hill’s teams, he’s a good guy, has a good team, a good bunch of girls down here.”

“I want to congratulate coach Burns and the Pocahontas County Warriors,” PikeView coach Hill said. “Coach Burns does a fantastic job with that program up there.”

PikeView was up 2-1 at the half, but the Warriors would tie the game quickly. In the 48th minute, a communication breakdown between PikeView goalie Amanda Presley and a defender led to Morgan Williamson getting an open shot. She did not miss, going left and easily beating the PikeView net minder.

“It was awesome,” Williamson said. “I couldn’t have done it without any of my team. Danielle (Mothes) made an awesome cross to me. It was amazing.”

“It seemed like a couple times we were more interested in celebrating our own success than we were about finishing up the game,” Hill said.

Williamson scored again 20 minutes later. Again she took the ball in the Panthers’ end and fought off a defender before beating Presley to the left.

“I was so happy to get that goal,” Williamson said. “I had to go off the field a few minutes before that. I had to use the bathroom. Coach wouldn’t let me go before the game. I was pumped up and ready to go.”

“(Williamson is) a great defender and No. 5 (Madeline Jerome) is a great defender,” Burns said. “And we switched. She’s got great foot skills and she made the plays when we needed them.”

The first half was an even battle between the two sides. Each team spent time deep in the other team’s end of the field, but then the defenses would shut down any attack that was attempted.