Published: October 08, 2008 11:34 pm            

Queens of the hill

West girls ranked No. 1

FAIRMONT — As West Fairmont’s girls’ soccer team continues to dominate the competition, the Polar Bears have earned their due with coaches around the state.

The Polar Bears took over the No. 1 spot in the wvsoccer.net state rankings and were also ranked No. 12 in by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in their national Region IV rankings recently released.

“I’m so proud of the girls,” West Fairmont head coach Debbie Cattafesta said via e-mail. “We continue to work hard and do our best for FSHS.”

The national rankings are broken into eight regions. Those rankings are then combined into a national Top 25 of which the Polar Bears have yet to crack. The rankings for all eight regions are available at www.nscaa.com.

The Polar Bears have a 12-0-4 record and are allowing less than a goal per game — 0.20. They are scoring a 2.87 goals per game clip.

North Marion’s girls’ team has started to creep up the rankings late in the season.

The Huskies come in at No. 20 with a 7-3-2 record.

That sets up a showdown between the Bears and Huskies tonight at North Marion at 6 p.m.

North is also allowing less than a goal per game — 0.64 — and averaging 2.55 goals per game on offense.

East Fairmont’s girls’ team is ranked No. 47 in the state.

On the boys’ side of the sport, North Marion is the highest rated Marion County team coming in at No. 12.

The Huskies (10-2-1) have are scoring an average of 3.0 goals per game while allowing only 0.92.

East Fairmont, who recently clinched its first North Central Athletic Conference regular season title, is No. 18.

The Bees will be without the services of standout Nolan Harvath for the rest of the season.

Harvath broke his leg in a game last week.

West Fairmont’s boys’ program is ranked 20th in the state.

The Bears are 8-5-1 on the season and are scoring a 2.15 goals per game clip and allowing only 1.23.

West, which awaiting the return of head coach Jim DeNardi to the sidelines, has been in the capable hands of assistant Darrin Paul for the past several games.

The Polar Bear boys will also do battle with the Huskies tonight at 8 p.m. in Rachel.

The West Virginia rankings include all schools and do not differentiate between Class AAA, AA or A.

E-mail Mike Bowen at mbowen@timeswv.com.

        

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