Girls and boys high school sectional soccer honors are up for grabs today and Bridgeport High School is in the running for both.

 

The Lady Indians play Liberty High School, 2 p.m. at Wayne Jamison Field. The boys face Notre Dame, 6 p.m. at Clarksburg City Park in Nutter Fort, the home field of the Fighting Irish. The teams earned their slot in the finals by defeating Lincoln and Robert C. Byrd high schools, respectively, Wednesday night.

 

Even at this stage of the game, there’s preparation to be done and strategies to follow, coaches say.

 

“Basically, the game plan is to play the way we have been playing throughout sectionals,” says Coach Satterfield, who said after Wednesday night’s 1-0 upset over the RCB Eagles that he was very happy with the boys’ performance. “We have shown how good of a team we are because the guys are playing for each other and not themselves.”

 

Satterfield said he told his players that stats mean nothing in playoff – that a win is the only thing that matters.

 

“We have been focused and have played phenomenal defense lately which is good considering Phil (Chafin of Notre Dame) has 70 goals this season,” he said.

 

Chafin is the Fighting Irish’s main threat, but there are 10 other players on the field, Satterfield said.

 

“If we exploit them like we did during the regular season – when we scored four on them – and stay tough defensively unlike the regular season – when they scored four on us – we will come out with a win. However, if we give Phil or Cistaro or McMunn enough chances, they’ll score them.”

 

The Indians are very excited for this evening’s game. Satterfield is also eager for the opportunity. 

 

“I also told them that if we don’t win this game, then our big win against RCB doesn’t mean much,” he said. “We must keep winning.”

 

Lady Indians Coach John Reese said he, too, has been preparing his team physically and emotionally for today’s contest.

 

That includes some skill drills on the turf - and some real talk about PK.

 

“If the game goes into overtime, it comes down to penalty kicks,” Reese said.

 

Such was the case Wednesday night between Liberty and RCB, after which the Lady Mountaineers pulled out the win after two overtimes.

 

When that scenario occurs, Reese said, five dependable players take the field.

 

“I feel confident that I have 15 girls who could fill those spots,” he said.

 

It’s no doubt an important spot – and one which comes with responsibility and some stress.

 

“If you get the kick and don’t make it, that’s a lot of stress on you,” Reese said.

 

That’s why Reese made it clear to his girls that if they’re not feeling confident about going in as part of that special penalty kick team, they need to speak up. He made that clear at last night's practice. 

 

“We were just going through the process. If it does come to that, I don’t want anyone to feel it’s their fault if they get beat,” he said.

 

Overall, Reese and his team are equipped for whatever may come their way in today’s sectional final. That includes two top-notch goalies in Morgan Willis and Joplin Kehrer.

 

After Willis suffered a concussion during the season, Kehrer, a freshman, stepped up and did an outstanding job, Reese said.

 

It doesn’t hurt that both have proven their worth when it comes to stopping penalty kicks.

 

“They have both stopped them in crucial situations,” he said.

 

Sectional finals bring the soccer season down to the wire and from teams of this caliber, one doesn’t know what to expect, Reese said. He hopes he has prepared his girls for any scenario. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are Reese and Satterfield.