The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 8, 2009

Hawks win battle of unbeatens

University edges Hurricane to capture title

By Dan Stillwell

Yes, Kaylynn Petrisin has a left foot.

The sophomore forward broke a scoreless tie in the 62nd minute Saturday to give University a 1-0 victory over Hurricane in the Class AAA girls final of the state high school state soccer tournament at Paul Cline Stadium.

Petrisin took advantage of a defender’s header that went awry to bang in a shot from just inside the 6-foot box.

“I usually don’t score left-footed,” she said. “I did a little swing and I thought it hit the post and was coming out.”

She was wrong, as the ball skipped by Hurricane keeper Callie McClanahan and into the net.

“I did a double look and it went in,” Petrisin said. “I started crying tears of joy.”

The goal settled a defensive struggle between two highly ranked, unbeaten teams.

Hurricane (19-1-5), third in the final West Virginia Soccer Association poll, took three shots on goal.

No. 1 University (23-0-2) had just two shots on goal. The first, by Whitney Cavender, came just a minute before Petrisin’s game-winner.

“I had quite a few shots in the first half, but I couldn’t finish,” Hurricane’s Becca Logan said. “I think it was nerves.”

Hurricane had been the better team in the first half.

“They were strong and took physical risks. Their skills were better than I thought,” University coach Ray Petrisin said. “They imposed their will on three-quarters of the first half.”

The Hawks reversed their fortunes in the second 40 minutes of the game.

“We did so well the first half, we thought we could come out and win it,” Redskins forward Skye Smith. “The second half, they came out strong and we came out flat.”

Coach Shellie Young said University was one of the most physical teams the Redskins had played.

“They have big, strong, fast athletes. We knew we had to neutralize their style of play, and for the most part, we did that,” she said.

“We had a misplay on defense and they capitalized on it.”

Both teams were vying for their first-ever state championship.

University lost 1-0 on penalty kicks to Nitro in last year’s Class AAA final.



University 1, Hurricane 0

Halftime: 0-0. Scoring: U Kaylynn Petrisin, unassisted (62). Shots on goal: U 2 (Whitney Cavender, Petrisin); H Deanna Boyer, Skye Smith 2). Keeper saves: U (Hillary Dewitt 2); H (Callie McClanahan 1). Corner kicks: U 1; H 3. Fouls: U 5; H 12. Yellow cards: None. Records: U (23-0-2); H(19-1-5).

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