HERMITAGE, Pa. — The Clarion River Valley Strikers Girls U12 squad opened the soccer season with a win against a stacked Shenango Valley team in Hermitage Sunday, September 13.
With the wind at their backs finishing on a high note in the spring, this crew was determined to walk away with more than a tie in Hermitage. The Strikers took a lead early in the game and won the soccer match convincingly 2-1.
Sunday was the first chilly day of late summer, with wind and a sprinkle of rain on the finely manicured fields of Shenango Valley Park. The scoring began early in the first half with center midfielder Korrin Burns advancing the ball through traffic to score unassisted with a rising shot right. Forward Joyce Kim and left midfielder Parker Boyden each took 2 shots on goal only to be stopped by the opposing goaltender.
For most of the first half the action was on the Shanango part of the field. Reagan Pack scored the second goal of the game with a perfect crossing pass from Burns. Shawna Pack kept the heat on Shenango Valley with two promising cross field switches that came up fruitless. The Clarion defense was wound tight as Livi Weckerly, Riley Burford, Anna Gribik and center defender Bailey Snowberger kept the Striker goalkeeper, Evelyn Lerch, having to stop only 4 shots on goal in the first half.
With a goalkeeper switch in the second half for both teams the momentum change was palpable as Shanango came out scoring early in the second half against goalkeeper Shawna Pack. With several alignment changes, Shenango Valley looked capable of tying the game soon. As the game began to open up, multiple scoring chances evolved on both sides. Pack was magnificent in goal stopping 7 more shots. Lerch was placed in forward position working diligently with Reagan Pack, Burns, Boyden and Kim. Time and time again the Clarion offense showed promising signs of finding the back of the net again only to be met by the new goalkeeper at the top of the box.
As time expired, the girls realized what they had done on their first of three straight away games and they deservedly rejoiced. With only 2 substitutes versus 6 substitutes on the other bench, the Clarion U12 Girls once again proved their determination and moxie that has defined this group throughout their developing years.
The girls travel to Meadville next Sunday for a match of two unbeaten teams at 4PM.
Article submitted by Matt Lerch
