CRVS Community Impact: CUP Senior Marina Kelly (11/23/17)

(By Matt Lerch)

Marina Kelly returned to Clarion in the Fall of 2017 to coach the U12 Clarion River Valley Strikers (CRVS) White Team to her second winning season. CRVS is the premier competitive soccer club in Clarion County.  It is the only soccer club in the county to participate in the highly competitive PA West League. PA West is part of US Youth Soccer, Region One and is associated with US Soccer and FIFA.   CRVS offers competitive soccer for boys and girls, ages 7 through 18.   The club is focused on the development of players through individual skill, tactical teamwork, and proper sportsmanship.  CRVS has been fortunate to tap the talent from Clarion University with students representing many different majors.

(Photo by Matt Lerch) CRVS Coach Marina Kelly

Marina is a 21 year old senior at Clarion University.  The oldest of 3 Kelly kids, Marina is majoring in Secondary Education with a concentration in History.  She attended Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts where she played soccer, basketball and lacrosse.  She spent her first year of college at UMASS Boston then transferred to Clarion University in the fall of 2015.  Marina finished her college career this fall as the Captain of the Clarion University Women’s Soccer team and can currently be seen playing guard on the Clarion University Women’s Basketball team.

Her superior athleticism as a dual sport Division 2 athlete is fun to watch as a spectator.  What Marina brings to the table is the soccer acumen with a blend of motivation, kindness and respect.  In her youth, she played on many club soccer teams in the Boston area as well as AAU basketball.  With this childhood experience, she knows how to effectively communicate with the local Clarion youth…..and get winning results.

Marina’s goal as a coach is to provide a solid skill foundation, knowledge of the game, and love for the sport.  She emphasizes the importance of a hard work ethic in anything her Strikers soccer players do in life whether on or off the field.

The Clarion River Valley Strikers soccer organization appreciates all of the hard work and dedication Marina has shown the local soccer club and look forward to her coaching again in the Spring of 2018.

(Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article and photo. And thank you Marina for your commitment to this community and our youth!!!!!)