Lady Cats Soccer Team Goes 1-0-1 In Latest Action (09/19/18)

(By Coach Chris Schonbachler)

The Clarion Area Lady Cat soccer team has faced numerous challenges through the first two weeks of their 2018 season.  The team roster currently stands at 12 players.  This means on most game nights the girls play a full 80 minute game, with the only break coming at halftime.  This was especially challenging during the first week of the season, when game time temps were hovering in the 85-90 degree range.  The team notched their first win of the season, last Thursday, with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Keystone Lady Panthers.

Lindsey Kemmer got Clarion on the board with a well-placed shot that found its way past the Keystone goalkeeper.  Wendy Beveridge gave Clarion a 2-0 advantage off an assist by Emily Grabiak in the second half.  Hannah Hazlett faced a penalty shot in her first start as Clarion’s goalkeeper late in the match.  Hazlett made the initial stop, but the ball rebounded off of her and Keystone’s Paige Cotton cut the lead in half.  The team fought off a late rally from Keystone and held on for the win.

Tuesday evening the Lady Cats hosted Redbank Valley.  The girls played an impressive first 40 minutes, controlling much of the play.  Freshman Joyce Kim scored her first goal of the season, to give the Lady Cats a 1-0 lead.  Later in the first half, the Lady Bulldogs placed a shot past Clarion’s Hannah Hazlett to even the score.

Clarion answered the Redbank goal soon after, when Wendy Beveridge crossed a ball into the middle of the field and Emily Grabiak placed an outstanding shot into the top left corner of the Redbank goal.  The Lady Bulldogs evened the score once again in the second half and at the end of regulation the game was tied at 2-2.  The teams played 2 additional 10 minute periods, trading scoring chances, but neither team conceded a winning goal and the game finished in a 2-2 tie.

The entire 11 player Clarion squad played an outstanding game.  Jenna Miller and Megan Stahlman had strong performances on the defensive side of the ball, while Ava Cherico and Lauren Troutman turned in great efforts on the offensive end of the field.  It was a great team effort and all 11 players made critical plays throughout to secure the draw.

Through six games, the Lady Cats are 1-4-1 and their next game is Thursday evening (September 20th)when they host Ridgway.

Keep up the good work Lady Cats!

(Thanks to Coach Schonbachler for this article. Keep up the hard work, Lady Cats!!!!)