Clarion River Valley Strikers U12 Green Team Suffers First Defeat on Road Game

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published September 27, 2016 4:31 am
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MERCER CO., Pa. — The 2-1 Clarion River Valley Strikers U12 Green Team suffered its first defeat of the season at the hands of Mercer on Mercer’s home fields at Cool Springs. The Strikers lost by a score of 7-2 against a more mature and physical team.

(Pictured above: Coach Kevin Griffin)

On a sunny early fall day, the Strikers took to the field attempting to increase their record to 3-0. With a full bench of Clarion Strikers, Coach Kevin Griffin devised the game plan for this particular team. The action began as Griffin’s defense saw a particularly tall and skilled player kick in the first of two Mercer goals from corner kicks past an awaiting goalkeeper Isaac Lerch. An ensuing penalty kick by the tall Mercer forward sent the ball over Lerch’s head for the third Mercer score. The Strikers offense answered with midfielder Emma Goughler advancing the ball up field to forward Colson Ritzert who found the back of the net making the score 3-1. Yet another goal was scored with an arching rainbow kick by Mercer making the score 4-1 at the half.

Francis Kassibama

Coach Griffin saw that his team still had promise against this formidable opponent. Making an adjustment by taking defender Francis Kassibama (pictured above) and switching with left wing Taylor Alston (pictured below), the offense changed its dynamic. Both Alston and Kassibama went down temporarily with injuries only to rebound and contribute more to the game.

Taylor Alston

Standout defender Anna Gribik (pictured below) was the anchor on defense as usual with her intrepid response to incoming scoring opportunities. Collision after collision Gribik stopped Mercer’s advancement. But the long shots evaded Gribik, Blaise Cunningham and Alston with 2 more rainbow shots going over Lerch’s head into the goal for a 6-1 game. Right wing Drew Slaugenhaupt crossed several perfect passes over the goalmouth with Gia Babington, Aaron Bashline, Karlie Clark and Mariah Beary missing the mark. Finally, one of Slaugenhaupt’s passes achieved success with a perfect feed to a crashing Ritzert who scored his second goal. Mercer wasn’t done though as another penalty kick was perfectly arched over Lerch’s head for the final score of 7-2. Lerch recorded 9 saves on the day with a difficult defeat.

Anna Gribik

The Strikers played as well as they could have against a team that was well matched without the tall Mercer forward. The Strikers’ U12 Green Team will start a 3 game home stand against Oil Region Leccia team this Sunday at 1PM at the Strikers’ home field, The Clarion County Park.

(Article/Photos submitted by Matt Lerch)

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