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Lady Cats Soccer Season Concludes, Wendy Beveridge and Lindsey Kemmer Honored On Senior Night (10/25/18)

(By Coach Chris Schonbachler)

The Clarion Area Lady Cats Soccer Team completed their regular season last week with a visit from Kane and a trip to Punxsutawney.

Photos by Luneda Troutman) Lady Cat Seniors honored on with their parents on Senior Night: (L-R) Tony Beveridge, Wendy Beveridge, Barb Beveridge, Terry Kemmer, Lindsey Kemmer and Neil Kemmer

Tuesday October 16th was Senior night, prior to the game Wendy Beveridge and Lindsey Kemmer were recognized as this years’ soccer graduating class.  As has been the case in most games this season, due to injuries, the Lady Cats took to the field with 9 players against the 11 player Kane side.

The Lady Wolves jumped out to a fast start with a pair of goals from Rachael Buhl and Sadie Walters, giving them a 4-0 lead at the half.  In the second half, Clarion’s seniors showed why they should never be counted out.  A penalty kick goal from Lindsey Kemmer narrowed the score to 4-1, soon after Kemmer finished an outstanding cross from Wendy Beveridge to close the gap to 4-2.  With 10 minutes remaining Beveridge added a goal of her own to trim the advantage to one.

Lady Cats Soccer Team celebrating with Wendy and Lindsey

The Kane girls tightened up defensively and managed to keep a hard charging Lady Cat team at bay to prevail with the 4-3 victory.

The Lady Cats finished their 2018 season with a trip to Punxsutawney on Thursday October 18th.  The girls arrived with 10 available players for the match, 2 players being unavailable due to injuries.  Clarion’s Wendy Beveridge made her final appearance as the Lady Cat goalkeeper in the first half.  Megan Stahlman made her first start as a forward this season.  The Lady Cats dominated ball possession though most of the first half.  Lindsey Kemmer and Lauren Troutman created several chances from the left side.  Ava Cherico and Robyn Stahlman played a strong defensive game, neutralizing any Lady Chucks  attacks.  Troutman opened the scoring with a low corner shot that snuck past the Punxy keeper, she doubled the lead soon after with a booming goal shot from 30 yards out.  Unfortunately, the Lady Cats injury bug would bite once again when Megan Stahlman took a shot off her face, causing a game ending injury to her right eye.  The girls played on with the familiar 9 player side they’ve been accustomed to this year.  Lauren Troutman added her 3rd goal for her first hat trick, Lindsey Kemmer added her team leading 6th goal, and Joyce Kim scored her 3rd goal as a freshman to complete the 5-0 win.

The final results for the season show a 3-11-1 record.  What those numbers do not show is the effort, determination, and heart showed by a team of young women who went into most games outnumbered.  This team could have easily dropped their heads and given up, but instead they chose to fight harder.  The benefits of this fight does not show in this year’s record, but it will show in the efforts of next year’s Lady Cats and in the mindset of our seniors as they start life’s next chapter.  As their coach I couldn’t be more proud of this team and the story they wrote together this season.

Thanks to Clarion Area and Clarion-Limestone administrations and athletic departments for their support, also thanks to the Clarion Area maintenance crew for their preparations of our practice and game fields.  As always, much thanks to the family and friends that support the team.

(Thanks to Coach Schonbachler for this article and to Luneda Troutman for the photos. Great job this season, Lady Cats!!!!)