CRVS Under-12 Girls And Under-12 Co-ed Teams Earn Ties (10/02/15)
(Under 12 Girls: CRVS 1 – Kinzua 1)
(By Matt Lerch)
The Clarion River Valley Strikers earned a 1-1 tie against an experienced and larger physical team Sunday September 27th in Warren. Coming off of a 0-2 loss to Meadville last weekend, the Clarion girls had something to prove against Kinzua, a team so deep they fielded two all girls teams last spring. With only 10 players, Clarion played with determination against 14 Kinzua players.
(Photo by Matt Lerch) Joyce Kim
With star center midfielder, Korrin Burns, playing the game with a sore heel the offense was going to have to play together as a smooth running machine to compensate. Midfielders Reagan Pack, Liv Weckerly, Parker Boyden and Riley Burford helping starting forward Joyce Kim, the girls were off to a strong start notching 3 shots on goal in the first half. The Kinzua team played the body to their advantage by driving deep into Striker territory.
Time and time again the Striker defense was able to box out their forwards keeping them on the outside. Shawna Pack, center defender, ended numerous attempts by Kinzua to take a shot on Clarion goalie Evelyn Lerch.
(Photo by Matt Lerch) Shawna Pack
Right side defender Bailey Snowberger was able to shut down the strongest Kinzua midfielder even though she towered over Snowberger. With relentless pursuit left side defender Anna Gribik was able to complement Snowberger and Pack to keep shots on Lerch to 13 in the first half.
The second half started scoreless and was anybody’s game. Finally the chance for Clarion came as Burns threw in a ball on the right side deep in Kinzua’s end toward their goal. The ball ricocheted back and Joyce Kim exploited the opportunity with a perfect rainbow shot on goal arching over their goalie for a 1-0 lead.
(Photo by Matt Lerch) Korrin Burns
The ball was up and down the field for the duration of the game. With 30 seconds left a flurry of activity happened in front of the Clarion goal and Kinzua tied it up. Lerch finished the game with 27 saves and the whistle blew ending the game in a 1-1 tie bringing the Clarion record to 1-1-1.
The Clarion girls now start their home stand with 4 straight home games at Clarion County Park. They can be seen at 2:00 PM defending home turf against Grove City on Saturday, October 4th.
Co-ed Under 12: CRVS 3 – Grove City 3
(By Mindi Verdill)
The Coed U12 Strikers Team traveled to Grove City for their first away game of the season on Sunday, September 27th.
The front line of Nate Megnin, Riley Milliron, Max Southworth and Bailee Verdill started out strong, with some great passing that put a lot of pressure on the Grove City defense. It was Nate Megnin who found the net first, off a cross from Riley Milliron. The Strikers kept the pressure on Grove City and Megnin scored his second goal of the game, off a pass from Bailee Verdill, making the score 2-0.
The incredible defense of Kaleb Wolbert, Kaegan Phillips and Charlie Franchino kept Grove City well away from Striker goalie Tyler Bingham, for a good while, until Grove City was able to get one in over the goalie’s head to make the score 2-1.
The Striker defense got caught up at midfield and could not get back in time to stop Grove City’s second goal from rolling in just past the Ggoalie’s fingertips, to tie the game at 2-all. The Strikers did a good job of keeping the pressure on Grove City, but the tall, strong defense was able to keep the ball away from their goalie. The Strikers Lexi Coull, Bailee Verdill and Nate Megnin kept the pressure on Grove City with help from Hayden Condon and Brett English.
The Strikers 3rd goal came when Verdill got one past the goalie off a rebound from his initial shot. Lexi Coull had a beautiful cross pass to Max Southworth who hit the crossbar. Strikers went into halftime with a 3-2 lead.
The second half saw a lot of volleying from one defensive end to another. Kaegan Phillips and Charlie Franchino had great performances from their defensive positions. But it was on a penalty shot that Grove City was able to get one more goal to tie the game at 3-all. The exciting, fun to watch game ended with a 3-3 tie.
The Strikers will travel to Grove City next Sunday to meet up with a second Grove City team.
(Thanks to Matt Lerch and Mindi Verdill for their articles and photos. Good work, Strikers!!!!)