With sectional play beginning around the state in less than two weeks, PCHS coaches Steve and Kathy White have had to deal with players not being able to play due to illness, injury and canceled games, and the outcomes of matches have been affected. Class AA Liberty Harrison canceled their two games on September 21, when they could not secure a school bus, and the Bluefield Girls canceled their game on October 2, when nobody would coach their team after their coach was transferred to Australia by his employer.

Both PCHS teams also had to secure substitute coaches for the James Monroe and Pikeview games when Steve White's father died suddenly at his home in North Carolina. The Whites, including Erin and Parker, both talented starting center midfielders, headed to North Carolina, and Mali Minter pitched in to coach the teams at James Monroe, while Mike Burns came out of retirement to coach the Pikeview games at PCHS.

PCHS Girls upset at James Monroe 1-2

The #9 ranked PCHS Girls traveled to James Monroe on September 23 and were upset 1-2 after easily beating James Monroe 5-1 at home in the first match of the season. Senior Amy Rose scored the one PCHS goal off a corner kick, and senior Morgan Williamson's smart play contributed to the score by pulling the opposing lead defender out of the box.



PCHS Boys take it to James Monroe 10-3 at JMHS

The PCHS Boys easily took down the winless Mavericks (10-3) on September 23 after winning (10-2) at home on August 21. Scoring goals for the Warriors were:ﾠ junior Curtis Pyles, sophomore Tyler Davis (hat trick of three goals), junior Bill Kelley (two goals), freshman Garrett McCurdy, sophomore Levi Hefner and freshman Dustin Dilley. Credited with assists were:ﾠ Pyles, McCurdy (three assists), Hefner (two assists)and freshman James Coy, back from an earlier injury.

#2 Pikeview Girls win 1-4 at PCHS

The #2 ranked Class AA Pikeview Girls, with an (11-0-1) record, handed the Lady Warriors a (1-4) loss at PCHS on September 25. The 2009 Lady Warriors lost to Pikeview 0-1 at Pikeview and then 1-2 in the regional championship at Bluefield. Pikeview's one tie this season was versus Greenbrier East, whom the Lady Warriors defeated 1-0 at East on September 14.

Junior Lyndsey Barlow scored the only PCHS goal on a penalty kick. Pikeview is now (14-0-1).

#12 Pikeview Boys win 2-0 at PCHS

The #12 Pikeview Boys, sporting a (7-5-0) record, got revenge with a (2-0) win at PCHS on September 25. Last year the 2009 Warriors shutout Pikeview (5-0) at Pikeview. Pikeview's record is now (10-5-0) with two more wins after the PCHS win.

#9 PCHS Girls upset #6 Midland Trail 2-1 at PCHS

If you looked at the records and rankings of the four soccer teams that played on September 28 at PCHS, then the results of both matches have to be considered upsets.

The #9 ranked PCHS Girls played #6 ranked Midland Trail Patriots in a Coalfield Conference matchup of state powers. Trail came into the game with a (9-3) record while Pocahontas sported a (6-4) record.

Trail got on the scoreboard first midway through the first half with a direct shot into the goal.

Williamson would tie the game at (1-1) for PCHS at the 8:11 mark of the first half when she dribbled, turned and blasted the ball straight into the goal.

The PCHS go-ahead goal came with 15 minutes left in the game when Barlow headed a rebounded PCHS shot over the Trail goalie and into the net.

The PCHS Girls will probably jump in the rankings this week with the (2-1) win. The ladies traveled to Class AAA Nicholas County on Tuesday and to Class AA #4 Shady Spring on Thursday.

Pendleton County upsets PCHS Boys 3-2 at PCHS

The PCHS Boys have dominated the young series with Potomac Valley Conference foe Pendleton County, but the co-ed Wildcat team played much better at PCHS on September 28 than their (0-11) record indicated they would.

Pendleton scored the first two goals of the match, a header off a penalty kick and then a direct shot to the goal.

Sophomore center fielder Parker White scored first for the Warriors right in front of the Wildcat Uprights.

A minute later Pyles perfectly placed a corner kick to senior Alex Rodriguez who tied the game at 2-2.

A handball call on Pocahontas out of the box setup the Wildcat direct kick and goal that resulted in a 3-2 Wildcat lead with just under 24 minutes to go in the match.

Captains Pyles, Kelley and Rodriguez did all they could to try to will their team to a victory, but the Wildcats tasted their first victory of the season and held on for what is probably a first win over PCHS in soccer.

PCHS Boys upset at home by Bluefield 1-2

The PCHS Boys entertained winless Class AA Bluefield on October 2, but a closer look at the Beaver record shows that Bluefield only lost 2-4 to #2 Oak Hill and Oak Hill tied #1 Charleston Catholic in Charleston 1-1.

Bluefield scored first and then went ahead 2-0 at the 24:41 mark of the second half. Pyles scored in a crowd to cut the Beavers' lead to 2-1 with 7:55 to go, but the Warriorsﾒ frantic efforts to tie the match came up short. Sophomore goalie Frankie Lambert had 10 stops and freshman goalie Matthew Anderson added two late in the game.

The Warriors record drops to 2-6-2. The PCHS Boys faced #6 in Beckley on Tuesday and traveled to #8 Shady Spring on Thursday; both opponents are Class AA teams.