Clarion Area Soccer Downs Forest Area,
(Images by Maria Wilson) Above: Lexi Coull with a Hat Trick!!
(By Clarion Head Coach Chris Schonbachler)
The Clarion Area Lady Bobcat soccer team hosted two matches this week.
On Monday they played the Forest Area Lady Fires in the late game of a boys/girls double header. Due to injuries/illness on the Forest team, both schools agreed to play a 10 vs 10 game.
Clarion jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Alexis Coull blasted a shot just over the Lady Fire goal keeper.
Forest answered when Olivia Siegel picked up a pass to the left side of the field, made a speedy run towards the Clarion goal, and placed a nice shot past Clarion goalkeeper Maddie Baker (the only goal she’d allow).
Clarion controlled ball possession throughout most of the game and did an excellent job of defending against the very quick Lady Fire forwards. The back line of Robyn Stahlman, Abi Frederick, Mercedes Cunningham, and Olivia Hannold put forth their best performance of the 2021 season.
As the game continued, Clarion midfielder Julianna Wilson carried the ball midway through the Forest end, before playing an outstanding elevated through ball pass to Coull, who put the finishing touch on the play for her second goal of the evening. Coull would later add her third tally of the evening, earning the hat trick, and ensuring the Lady Bobcats a 3-1 victory.
Congratulations to Maddie Baker on her first ever win as a Lady Bobcat goalkeeper.
The Clarion-Limestone boys team were 8-1 winners in the early match of the evening.
Tuesday evening saw the Lady Bobcats hosting the annual D9 juggernaut, the Karns City Lady Gremlins.
Early on, the Clarion defense were once again putting forth one of their best efforts of the season and helped generate several offensive opportunities.
The Lady Gremlin offense picked up their intensity and began controlling ball possession. McKenna Martin started the scoring with her first of 6 goals in the match as Karns City kept the game out of reach.
Alexis Coull prevented the Lady Gremlin shutout when she earned and scored on a penalty kick. Her fourth goal in two games.
Late in the 2nd half, Clarion captain Joyce Kim found forward Adi Gunter in the middle of the field. Gunter made a nice run into the Offensive end, but the Lady Gremlin defense were able to thwart that opportunity.
The Lady Bobcats get a much needed mid season break before hosting the Redbank Lady Bulldogs on October 5th.
(Thanks to Coach Shonbachler for this article and to Maria Wilson for her photos. Keep up the great work, Bobcats Soccer!!!!)