Clarion River Valley Strikers U10 Squad Captures PA West Open Tournament Championship

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published June 28, 2017 4:32 am
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EDINBORO, Pa. (EYT) — Clarion area soccer is not only growing in it’s popularity, but also in prominence. The Clarion River Valley Strikers have consistently put out competitive teams as members of the PA West-District 7 League.

This spring season was no different as the Strikers’ U-10-Green team — coached by Head Coach Matt Uckert and Assistant Coach Heather Bish — went undefeated in the regular season. The next task ahead was the PA West Open Tournament at Edinboro University on June 23 to June 25. Chris Cox of Greenville, joined the coaches on the sideline for the tournament as the team was comprised of Logan Bish, Jonas Wilshire, Carter Ritzert, Kaden Baumcratz, Wyatt Boyden, Thomas Uckert, and guest players Hunter Cox and Ava Murcko, also from Greenville.

The tournament hosted 119 teams from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia, ranging in age from U-10 to U-19. The Strikers were placed in the Bronze Division which was split into two groups, each group having four teams.

On Friday evening, Clarion opened tournament group play against a solid Butler team and managed to defeat them 8-2. The Strikers’ next game was on Saturday morning against Indiana. They were able to win yet again, 11-2. The third and final game of the group dtage was against Elizabeth Forward, who was also unbeaten up to this point. The Strikers were a bit over-matched in this one and fell to a very talented team, 6-2. However, having only lost one game, the Strikers were able to move on to the semi finals for a very early morning match-up against a team from New Wilmington. After a bit of a sluggish start, Clarion put together a 6-2 win. The win guaranteed their place in the finals against none other than Elizabeth Forward.

Now playing on a bigger field with a slightly larger audience, the Strikers were going to have to put forth their best effort of the tournament to compete in this one. They were up for the challenge. Five minutes into the game, Clarion struck first with a well-placed ball into the side netting. Minutes later, Elizabeth tied it up with a free kick from 20 yards out. The two teams fought hard to a 1-1 tie to end the first half. About 10 minutes into the second half, Clarion put in another goal, only to be answered yet again, by another Elizabeth Forward goal. The two teams battled it out, up and down the field at a fervent pace. Then, with only about five minutes left on the clock, Clarion put a third and final goal in the back of the net causing the Strikers’ fans to erupt in celebration. Clarion managed to hang on until the final whistle blew and cemented the club’s first ever PA West Open Tournament Championship.

Both teams played an extremely hard fought game, and an overall outstanding tournament, but it was the Clarion River Valley Strikers who managed to edge out the victory and take home first place.

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