VINCENT - Try as they might, it just wasn't meant to be here Tuesday evening for the boys varsity soccer squads from Parkersburg and host Warren.
The Warriors of second-year head coach Andrew Johnson, an ex-PHS soccer player himself, watched a scheduled 7 p.m. showdown against head man Don Fosselman's Big Reds get delayed for about 90 minutes initially and then halted completely due to weather.
Although the rain never fully materialized on Tuesday night, continued lighting in the area stopped a match many fans were anxious to see.
"It was going to be a good soccer game," coach Fosselman said. "Both teams didn't want to lose so it was going to be a good game."
The two programs battled it out on the pitch until nine seconds were left in the ninth minute of early action before the match was stopped and both the Warriors and Big Reds had to march off the field.Finally, they were brought back out but this time they managed to run just 62 seconds off the clock before a large bolt of lighting flashed and everyone decided it was time to call it a night.
"They play every Tuesday and Thursday," coach Fosselman said of Warren's schedule, noting it wasn't going to be easy to reschedule this one. However, both teams want to play and Fosselman noted "we're going to try." A new date has not been set.
Even though the match would've had to last until halftime to be official, what little was played had excitement.
Following the long delay, Parkersburg senior co-captain Tyler Broadwater sent a direct kick into solid scoring position deep into the Warren box. However, the Big Reds were unable to finish and challenge Warren keeper Cody Stanley, who only had to turn back a shot by Nick Payne at the end of the fourth minute of action.
The Warriors were making their season debut. PHS now will carry a 2-0 mark into its 5 p.m. Friday contest versus Washington inside Stadium Field.
Warren had a prime chance to score in the seventh minute when the PHS defense failed to clear a ball. Reigning Southeast Ohio Athletic League player of the year Nick Koch rocketed a shot toward the goal, but Big Red keeper Reid Strobl was able to get in front of it and hang on after it popped away from his chest and arms for just a second.
NOTES: Parkersburg boys 0, Warren 0 (called due to weather issues)
Warren (0-0)
Parkersburg (2-0)
JV score: Warren 2, Parkersburg 1
JV goals: Seth Hall (Warren) 2; Adrian Burk (PHS) 1
