The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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September 20, 2008

Flying Eagles battle to draw

By Dan Stillwell

As architects of two of West Virginia’s most successful high school soccer programs, Rocky Powell and Wheeling Park’s Mario Julian are rarely happy with anything short of victory.

Yet neither coach was too upset following their squads’ 2-2 draw Saturday at Paul Cline Stadium.

It was that good of a game.

“It can’t get any more even than what we played,” Woodrow’s Powell said. “They’re a good opponent and neither team quit.”

All four goals were scored in the final 11 minutes.

“It was exciting,” Julian said. “Both teams played good possession soccer. You saw nice buildups, you saw some balls go to corners, you saw crossing and you saw goals every way you could today. It was just good soccer.”

Throughout the contest, both teams made good attacks, only to be thwarted, usually before a shot, by equally good defensive play.

Woodrow broke the deadlock when Derrick Law took an Aaron Dunbar pass, sailed into the penalty box and fired. The ball ricocheted off the keeper’s hands and landed at Jonah Moore’s feet for an easy shot.

Josh Henderson answered six minutes later for the Patriots, but Woodrow immediately struck back.

Dunbar fired a perfectly placed pass to Law, centered 10 yards in front of the goal. Law got the finish to make it 2-1.

“Derrick was well-fed and he made a dribble move and took a heck of a shot,” Powell said.

With just over a minute remaining, Park’s William Mathes ghosted into the box on a corner kick and headed the shot into the back of the net to seal the draw.

“Woodrow plays with so much heart and passion,” Julian said. “We talked at halftime about how we needed to match that.

“To come away tied 2-2, our kids matched that passion for sure.”

Class AAA No. 2 Park, which starts seven seniors, moved to 10-0-3 on the campaign.

“I think we’re better than what we were at the start of the season, and Woodrow is getting better as well,” Julian said. “They played us (evenly) when we’re playing our best soccer.”

No. 12 Woodrow now stands 4-2-3.

“We’ve had trouble scoring against quality teams, and Park is a quality team,” Powell said. “Finally we stick two in the back of the goal, but today it wasn’t enough.”

Woodrow won the JV game 2-1 on goals by Andy Rutledge and Ryan Kissinger. William Mathes scored for Park.

The Flying Eagles host Huntington at 7 p.m. Monday.

— E-mail:

dstillwell@register-herald.com

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