Clarion River Valley Strikers U12 Green Team Opens Fall Season With Shutout (09/08/14)
(By Matt Lerch) The Clarion River Valley Strikers (CRVS) Soccer Club is fielding 5 teams this fall competing in the PA West competitive soccer league. Two U10 teams, 2 U12 teams and 1 U14 team round out the conglomeration of Clarion teams. The U12 Green Team is one consisting of Clarion, Clarion-Limestone and Keystone students.
(Photos submitted by Matt Lerch) Austin Coull launches the ball downfield against Millcreek
In the soccer world scoring can be difficult on any given day, especially when you are playing Erie County’s Millcreek Soccer Association’s Gold team. Coach Laura Domena’s U12 Green Team not only scored 5 goals against Millcreek, her team shut them out.
This seasoned soccer team has been in the making for years as most of the players on this team are part of the boomerang club of original players in Domena’s inaugural Strikers season 2 years ago.
During a beautiful late summer Sunday (September 7) afternoon at Clarion County Park, the Strikers opened strong playing in the Millcreek zone for most of the first half. As Austin Coull took a pass from Cami Wolmodorf he sped down the field only to be tripped by a Millcreek fullback. With the penalty called, Clarion’s Owen Kerle took the penalty shot and made Millcreek pay with a top shelf offering over the goalie’s head for the first Clarion goal.
Koby Buzard and Ryker Bingham advance the ball against Millcreek
Striker Koby Buzard was on fire all afternoon long. Buzard scored two first half goals, both unassisted as he juked and weaved his way through multiple combinations of a strong Millcreek defense. The Strikers defense held tight led by center defender Jenna Miller. Miller, Korrin Burns and Riley Burford only allowed 3 shots on goalie Donnie Cunningham during the first half.
As the second half began, Millcreek made adjustments and came out strong against the Clarion squad. Not to be outdone, Domena tightened up her defense by adding pressure by midfielders Evelyn Lerch, Ryker Bingham and Nate Megnin. As the Millcreek forwards entered the Clarion box with the ball prepared to pull the trigger on Cunningham, Lerch flew into the mix to disrupt the play by knocking the ball out of play. The defense was strung so tight Millcreek only shot on Clarion’s net minder 2 times in the second half.
Cami Wolmodorf splits the Millcreek defense
But Koby Buzard wasn’t done. On a downfield throw-in by Austin Coull to Buzard, he centered the ball to Cami Wolmodorf awaiting the ball in the crease to score her first goal of the year. Owen Kerle’s strong pass from midfield to Austin Coull led to redemption as Coull scored his first goal.
Upon the final whistle, the U12 Green Team had chalked up their first win of the season against a difficult opponent whose population’s talent pool is much larger than Clarion. With fifth season CRVS Coach Laura Domena at the controls this team looks like it has promise to have a winning season against the Northwest PA teams this fall.
This Sunday (September 14), the U12 Green Team travels to Warren to take on one of the best teams in the league.
(Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article. Way to go CRVS!!!!)