The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 7, 2009

Hawks back in AAA final

By Dan Stillwell

Some players — and coaches — put the past behind them.

Others use memories to spur them on.

University High’s girls soccer team recalls all too well its 1-0 loss in a shootout to Nitro last season in the Class AAA state championship game.

“We’re going to use last year as motivation,” midfielder Whitney Cavender said, referring to today’s 1 p.m. final with Hurricane. “It was the worst feeling ever.”

The Hawks overcame another Kanawha Valley team, George Washington, by a 1-0 count Friday night to remain undefeated and advance to the championship game.

University (22-0-2) got a goal from junior forward Ashley Ramsey in the 31st minute to hand George Washington its fourth consecutive first-round defeat at states.

The goal was Ramsey’s 17th of the campaign.

“It was my happiest goal, definitely,” she said. “The ball was passed out wide to Kelsey Baker. She found me in the middle and I took two touches and shot it to the near post.”

Shots on goal were at a premium in the contest. University had just three, while the Patriots were held to one.

“They keep pounding at you, putting a lot of pressure on your (defensive) back line,” GW coach Dan Thistlethwait said. “Our forwards and midfield couldn’t get tracked.”

All according to plan, Hawks coach Ray Petrisin said.

“Our three forwards are our first line of defense,” he said. “We like to harass their defenders.”

Another key for University was preventing the Patriots from scoring on set plays such as direct kicks and corner kicks.

Last week, GW defeated Woodrow Wilson 1-0 in Fairlea on a corner kick.

“We didn’t get a corner opportunity tonight,” Thistlethwait said. “That’s something we practice heavily.”

Morgan Foster, who had GW’s sole shot on goal, said her team played “a little frantic” in the first half and things got little better.

“The second half we got a lot more chances, but they held us off,” she said.

Petrisin doesn’t plan to use last year’s final with Nitro as a motivating factor.

“We play it one game at a time. It’s just another challenge,” he said. “We respect Hurricane a great deal.

“They look very athletic and they handled a pretty good Jefferson team.

“All four (semifinal) teams are worthy of being champions. We look forward to the challenge.



University 1, George Washington 0

Halftime: U 1-0. Scoring: U Ashley Ramsey (31). Shots on goal: GW 1 (Morgan Foster), U 3 (Kara Seaman, Katlin Ware, Ramsey). Keeper saves: GW (Jarrett Walker 2) U (Hillary DeWitt 0). Corner kicks: U 4, GW 1. Offsides: U 4, GW 1. Yellow cards: None. Records: GW (17-4-2), U (22-0-2).

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