Indians and Bearcats Battle it Out in Class A/AA Region II Soccer Matches
By Julie Perine on October 29, 2014 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Indian soccer fans got their money’s worth Tuesday night as both the boys and girls varsity soccer teams played for Class A/AA Region II titles at Wayne Jamison Field.
The Lady Indians wrapped up a neat 6-1 victory over the Lady Bearcats of Grafton. Prior to that contest, the boys fought a lengthy battle with Grafton, going into two overtime periods before falling to the Bearcats in a nail biting shootout.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more from this team,” Coach Zane Satterfield said.
The Indians played with heart and in true team fashion, he said. BHS entered sectional play with a 6-11-3 record, but determined to go the distance. After defeating Liberty High School, the Indians upset Robert C. Byrd to advance to Region II action. The Bearcats had been victorious over the Indians in regular season play, outscoring the Tribe 4-2.
In Tuesday night’s regional, the Indians outshot Grafton 13-3, but couldn’t find the net until the second half. It was Tanner Furbee who first fired the shot which 
brought the crowd to its feet, but that goal was called back on an offside call. Minutes later, Luke Cox scored, tying the Bearcats, who had sealed up a goal early in the game. The contest ended in the 1-1 deadlock and advanced to two overtime periods, which resulted in no further scoring. The shootout which followed was also tight as the Indians and Bearcats had similar performances – finding the net with most penalty kicks. Grafton pulled ahead in the seventh round, capturing the regional win.
brought the crowd to its feet, but that goal was called back on an offside call. Minutes later, Luke Cox scored, tying the Bearcats, who had sealed up a goal early in the game. The contest ended in the 1-1 deadlock and advanced to two overtime periods, which resulted in no further scoring. The shootout which followed was also tight as the Indians and Bearcats had similar performances – finding the net with most penalty kicks. Grafton pulled ahead in the seventh round, capturing the regional win.
Bridgeport keeper Noah Rhine and Grafton keeper Trace Schooley both performed well – Schooley making a dozen saves.
The girls took the field well after the estimated 7 p.m. game time, but didn’t take long to score against the Lady Bearcats. Amanda Saymon fired the first two goals and Natalie Prater brought the score 3-0. Prater went on to find the net again and the action continued. Keeper Morgan Willis made two saves and Mikayla Oliverio contributed three assists to the 6-1 regional win.
As they have for the past three years, the Lady Indians advance to the Class A/AA state tournament in Beckley. BHS faces Fairmont Senior, 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7. The winner of that semifinal game will advance to the state championship game the following afternoon. Estimated start time for that game is 1 p.m.
Editor's note: Pictured is Adam Bentz and Stephanie Alvaro. See more photos by Tyler Maxwell of Ben Queen Photography at these links:
