Lady Cats Soccer Update (10/14/19)
(Above Photo: Action against Karns City)
(By Coach Chris Schonbachler)
The Clarion Area Lady Cat Soccer Team is heading into their final week of the 2019 season, a season that has been plagued by injuries. Of the 16 currently rostered players, only 5 have been injury free thus far. While the season results will not be as we anticipated, the character and effort displayed by this team has been outstanding. Through 11 games, freshman Anna Gribik leads the team with 7 goals, including 2 hat tricks. Evelyn Lerch, Lauren Troutman, Emily Grabiak, Megan Stahlman, and Jenna Miller have also scored this season. Joyce Kim has also helped the offensive effort with several assists.
On the defensive side of the ball, Hannah Hazlett has kept the team in a lot of games by making critical saves in goal. Jenna Miller and Ava Cherico have done an exceptional job as center defensive backs in both stopping opponents’ attacks and transitioning the play back to our offense. Breanna Hannold, a C-L freshman, has started every game as a defensive outside back. She showed good potential early in the season and has far surpassed our expectations for a first year starter. Lauren Troutman and Megan Stahlman have been forces in the midfield area, as expected. As fourth year starters, their ability to control play and generate offensive attacks is immeasurable.
While the multitude of injuries have taken several players off the field, it has also allowed for some of our first year players to gain plenty of game experience and has given our returning players time in different positions. Chesney Boggess has played in several games as both a defensive back and goalkeeper. She has started 2 games as goalie, recording 2 wins and allowing only 1 goal. Gabby Klein has showed continual progress playing as a midfielder and forward. Hannah Hazlett, Emily Grabiak, Megan Stahlman, and Lauren Troutman have been asked to play in various positions throughout the year, and have done so with a great attitude and equal results.
As the season rolls to a close, the team’s record stands at 2-8-1. Of those 8 losses 2 were overtime losses and one was a 2-0 loss at Karns City (by far one of the best recent results against a D9 powerhouse).
The girls will finish up this week with games at Ridgway on Monday, at Kane on Tuesday, and will celebrate senior night on Thursday with a home game against Punxsutawney. Some of the girls may be out with injuries, some may be limping up and down the field, but all will be giving their best effort. This effort, and not the injuries, will be the highlight I take away from the 2019 season.
(Thanks to Coach Schonbachler for this article. Keep up the hard work Lady Cats!!!!)