(Photo: Austin Coull dominates the Meadville midfield)

The team consisting of many participants playing in their 5th season under the CRVS banner finally completed what their previous teams had never accomplished, an unblemished season accompanied by 3 shutouts. Coach Laura Domena instructing the players is also coaching her 5th season this fall.

On a chilly, windy and yet sunny afternoon, October 19th at the Clarion County Park, the U-12 Green Team won against a feisty Meadville squad featuring an outstanding goalkeeper. With 23 shots on goal, the Strikers were victorious with a 3-1 decision at the end of the afternoon.

The scoring started in the first half with forward Austin Coull finding Beau Verdill open for a pass. Verdill blasted the shot left of the nimble goaltender for the first goal. After more shots on goal, another promising combination between forwards Cami Wolmodorf and Koby Buzard missed the goal just wide. Even defender Korrin Burns was able to shake off Meadville’s midfielders and advanced the ball for a shot on the peppered goaltender, only to see it stopped by his hands.

The first half saw the versatile and dominating Striker defense tighten to only allow 3 shots on Striker goalie Don Cunningham. Strong fullback Jenna Miller stopped cold attack after attack with Burns, Owen Kerle and Riley Burford shoring up the Striker Curtain creating a dearth of offense for Meadville.

After the first half whistle, the score was only 1-0 and the Strikers knew that was not enough. Then, at the start of the second half, the most refreshing play occurred as only Coach Domena could have dreamt. As the Meadville goalie attempted to clear the ball with a goalie kick, forward Cami Wolmodorf trapped the ball at about midfield, took a few steps and (reminiscent to a game winning goal against Millcreek 2 years ago) fired off a towering shot over the keeper’s head for the second Striker goal.

But Meadville wasn’t rolling over. A Meadville forward advanced the ball through the midfield and took a shot on Cunningham who saved and with a rebound Meadville was on the board. Midfielders Evelyn Lerch and Ryker Bingham were able to keep many more attempts from entering the Strikers zone as they tried to even the score. To prevent an equalizing score, Koby Buzard threw in a ball from right field to Austin Coull who dribbled the ball through 3 Meadville defenders and found a small opening on the bottom corner of the goal that was the third Striker goal.

The Striker attack still wasn’t over as Beau Verdill blasted a kick from the corner of left field soaring to the goal with Austin Coull deflecting the ball back across the crease to Evelyn Lerch who headed the ball down into the center of the goal. Unfortunately the cat-like reflexes of the goalie made the save on the one-inch line. Nonetheless, the crowd found the combination to be worthy of the highlight reel. Goalie Cunningham thwarted 6 more shots on goal to finish the game off.

As the final whistle blew, the score was 3-1 and the Strikers realized they had successfully achieved their dream… a perfect season. Outscoring their opponents 33-6 during their 7 game season, this coed crew has grown together and gelled together.

Many of these players have seen years of building and refining of talent. Thanks to the support of the whole Strikers organization and its many volunteers, parents and coaches for encouraging and engendering player development, Clarion can now be proud to be a force in the PA West Soccer League.