CRVS U12 Girls Soccer Squad Wins Season Opener With A Shutout (04/14/15)

(By Matt Lerch)

The Clarion River Valley Strikers soccer club decided this spring to form an all girls squad to compete in the U12 all girls league of PA West. Under the leadership of Coach Perry Boyden, the squad of 9 girls from Clarion Limestone, Keystone and Clarion started practice only 2 weeks ago in spitting snow and inches of mud. But with the warm weather drying the field at Clarion County Park for 2 days, the girls brought home a little sunshine to Clarion too.

The CRVS U12 Girls competed against a seasoned Kinzua team that travelled from Warren and the Clarion girls didn’t disappoint. Shutting out any team is no small feat and the CRVS girls shutout the Warren team 3-0.

The scoring began in the first half during a penalty shot against Kinzua. Kinzua was flagged for a flagrant hand ball by one of their defenders. Known for her strong leg, Riley Burford took the shot against the tall goalie, scoring top shelf dead center with a bullet the goalie couldn’t stop.

Kinzua was determined though taking 4 shots on goal in the first half against goalie Evelyn Lerch. Time and time again Kinzua attempted to penetrate into Clarion territory but the defense was wound tight by Ali Clark, Korrin Burns and dominating defender Jenna Miller. Kinzua’s offense never got off a clean shot onto Lerch in the net as most attempts rolled to her hands with ease.

Ahead 1-0 beginning in the second half, Clarion replaced Lerch with Miller in goal. Olivia Bish, Joyce Kim and Parker Boyden kept the Kinzua midfield tied up protecting the Clarion goal. Goalie Miller had several difficult shots to stop as Kinzua’s speedy offense showed glimmers of hope. As Lerch entered the field of play, with fresh legs from playing goalie in the first half, the electricity was palpable. Kinzua was pressuring by playing their defense past half field. Lerch cashed in on the mistake by securing the ball, juking one defender and was off to the races with nothing but a half field of green and a goalie to beat. She slid left and shot right with a dribbler to the far right of the net for the second goal.

Korrin Burns and Cami Wolmodorf had been working hard all game to find the back of the net and finally came up with the right formula. As Burns came down the center between the two midfielders she found Wolmodorf on the right flank. As Burns passed the ball Wolmodorf fired a shot wide right of the goalie’s hands to seal the 3-0 shutout.

Seven games remain. Next Sunday the girls travel to Warren to play the second Kinzua squad. More information can be found about Clarion River Valley Strikers at www.clarionsoccer.com

(Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article. Good work Strikers!!!!)