Clarion River Valley Strikers U12 Girls Squad Increase Win Column, Shut Out Penncrest (05/04/16)

(By Matt Lerch)

The Clarion River Valley Strikers U12 Girls put on another dazzling display of dominance in the highly competitive Lake Division of PA West.

Joyce Kim

(Photos by Matt Lerch) Joyce Kim

The squad of 11 girls shut out Penncrest Maplewood team 9-0 at the Clarion County Park for the girls’ first home game of the season. May 1 was a mixture of clouds, sun, rain and then more sun with moderate temps that played to the team’s advantage. Coach Kevin Griffin was once again pleased with the play of this seasoned group of girls, most of which have played for 8 years in the YMCA recreation league and Strikers.

Supremacy would be the word to describe the team’s performance today starting in the first minute when right wing Reagan Pack found striker Joyce Kim who shot on goal for the first score of the afternoon. Korrin Burns joined into the scoring with a blistering shot past the goalie from a quick switch by Reagan Pack again. Evelyn Lerch only had to make 4 saves in the first half due to the dominating performance of the combined defense of Riley Burford, Parker Boyden and Shawna Pack. The first half ended 2-0 Clarion….but the fireworks were only beginning.

Reagan Pack

Reagan Pack

Evelyn Lerch came out of goal in the second half with Shawna Pack taking goaltending duties. Lerch found Reagan Pack open down the right side who then kicked a blistering side shot past the Penncrest goalie. Midfielder Korrin Burns torched a corner kick to awaiting striker Lerch who kicked up high over the goalie for a top shelf goal. Lerch then took the ball down the middle of the field for an unassisted goal to make the score 5-0.

The Penncrest goalie then had a goalie’s nightmare occur when Burns took a shot that ricocheted back and Joyce Kim scored on the rebound. Lerch then found Taylor Alston open down the sideline who scored her first goal of the season. Gia Babington who worked the sidelines energetically during the game took the ball through the defense to score her first goal of the season.

Gia Babbington

Gia Babbington

And to put icing on the cake, Babington scored the final goal of the game unassisted again, making it a 9-0 shutout.

The Clarion River Valley Striker all girls squad proved once again that working tirelessly to improve their game through the week can pay big dividends. With only one goal scored against them in 3 games and 25 goals against the opposition, this team is everything it was promised to be at the beginning of the season. The addition of Alston and Babington in the ranks has improved depth and consistency to what will hopefully be a title season.

The Strikers will face their toughest competition of the season on Saturday in Warren against their nemesis, Kinzua. Clarion came in second place last season to Kinzua…..and they want retribution.

(Thanks to Matt Lerch for the article and photos. Keep up the good work, Strikers!!!!)