Week 3 arrived with warm temps and blustery winds, but it didn’t keep the crowds away from the exciting soccer action like this U8 game in which Garrett Clark takes on two defenders at once. Here are other week-three hightlights:

U8 Division
The u8 Killer Cougars were on the prowl again this Sunday, working on attacking the goal down the sidelines where there’s less traffic and congestion. They learned it well, with each player – Logan Niehaus, Jack Wilson, Carson True, Samuel Overton, Wyatt Kruse and Jonathon Kamerick each scoring goals. Even more impressive for the ‘Cougs’ Kamerick, Overton, True and Kruse each tallied an assist in the game!

The u8 White Tigers are three games into the year and the team has begun to see some great teamwork starting to emerge. The outstanding plays of Sunday’s game were the passing to open players for them to shoot and score a goal. Kirsten Brown and Cameron Mesecher each passed the ball up field to Megan Sievers for break away goals. Sievers also had an assist to Ashlyn Highland for a very important goal. April Jackson had a goal of her own and played some outstanding defense by clearing to ball out of the front of the net. Overall, the White Tigers had an exciting game and the coach and fans look forward to more great plays to come.

U10 Division
This game was a rematch between the u10 Dragons and the Soccer West team that defeated them in the first game of the season by 1 goal. In the first half, the two teams were held scoreless for a while thanks to the great goaltending of Connor Hage and the defense of Zach Phillips and Mathew Hintz. Hintz made several good stops in front of the goal and cleared the ball well down the side to the offense. Phillips once again used great footwork to get the ball to the offensive side. The Soccer West team struck first though and scored three straight goals, but they didn’t hold the Dragons scoreless in the first half. The Dragons’ offensive attack was led by Dylan Reed, Konnor Fisher and Jack Van Veen. Fisher was able to get past the defender and make a pass to Reed for a score. Van Veen had several great shots that just missed the goal. The Dragons were down at the half by a score of 3-1.

In the second half, Fisher went in at goalie for the first time this season. He did a great job, stopping shots and getting some great drop kicks down the field. The Dragon defense held strong against the quick Soccer West team in the second half. Christian Williams made several good stops and Simon Clark put his body in harm’s way to stop a shot. Van Veen and Hintz also helped out on defense in the second half and were able to get it down to the offense to attack the net. The offense played strong and made a great comeback in the second half with great teamwork and passing. Phillips and Tyler came in to play offense for the first time and did a great job with their hustling and great footwork. Reed was able to use his speed to get past the Soccer West defenders and put one into the back of the net to get them within one, however, Soccer West struck again and went back up two. The Dragons never gave up though. Hage and van Veen came back in on offense and Hage was able to take the ball away several times to set up the offensive attack. Reed got the ball on a breakaway and made a nice crossing pass in front of the goal to Jack who directed it into the back of the net to get back within a goal. That was as close as the Dragons would get, thought. Soccer West was able to score again and the Dragons lost a heart-breaker by a score of 5-3. It was a closely matched game. The Dragons showed a lot of teamwork and they never gave up.

After a disappointing 4-8 loss last weekend against Dallas Center Grimes, anticipation was high this Saturday for the u10 Pink Panthers who were on the road in Johnston. Despite the 9 a.m. game time, the girls were full of energy when they took the field. Everyone was focused and in the zone, easily out playing the opponent whose entire team followed the ball. The girls stayed in position allowing them to execute with great success. Great defensive plays by Abbie Molina, Hannah Ryan and Emma Brewer kept the ball in scorning position most of the game. The score at the half was 8-1.

As the second half got under way, Johnston seemed to rally and the Panthers lost some momentum, allowing four easy goals. A change in goalie by the Panthers was all that was needed to get the team back on track. Final score was Panthers 12, Johnston 5. Leading scorers were Amber Kettering (4), Ceora LeClaire (4), followed by Janetta Dawson with (3) and Kennadie Arpy (1). That afternoon, the girls got together for a can drive to raise money for their new PINK Pink Panther uniforms.

U12 Division
The u12 Roadrunners started strong at Soccer South Sunday afternoon, demonstrating improved passing, ball control and shooting. Carlisle kept the ball on Soccer South half of the field for most of the first half and goalie Mason Mumm only had to block six shots in the first half of the game thanks to tough defense by Tucker Stull and Luke Cooper. Soccer South attacked the center of the field, sending long balls down the center on quick transitions to their large forward. Despite being called for eight fouls, the same forward managed to put one ball in the back of the next to put Soccer South on the board first. Forward Luke Sinclair was denied on a penalty kick but Alex Felger would put Carlisle on the score board with a quick attack through a lot of traffic. There were a lot of shots taken by the Roadrunners in the first half but only Felger’s would find net. Score at half time, 1-1.

In the second half, the Roadrunners were put on the defensive. With quick transitions down the center of the field goalie Dean LeClaire had three goals scored on him with some well-placed shots. With the score showing 1-4, a fire seemed to be lit under the Roadrunners, and they put Soccer South on the defensive with attacks down the center and down the sides. After Cooper switched at goalie for LeClaire, he faced only four shots for the remainder of the game, one of which made it in from a rebound off the post. Grant Kelley (pictured right) played tough defense, taking the ball from the forwards several times. Alex Felger field found himself in front of the goalie five times, and two of his shots would find the back of the net. Midfielder Josh Fisher found himself with the ball on the outside, made a nice drive to the goal only to have his shot blocked. Andrew Pech would do the same on the other side of the field. In all the Roadrunners had 29 shots on goal. “Overall, I think we played better than I have ever seen this team play,” said coach Tim LeClaire. “Even though we lost, we had possession for most of the game.” Final score, 3-5.

U14 Division
The U12 CRUSH traveled to Grimes to try for their first win of the season and they would not disappoint. The Crush had another strong start the first half controlling the ball and making several nice drives to the goal but were not able to get the ball to the back of the net. Grimes would score twice - once off a miscommunication between a Carlisle defender and keeper and another off a break away. But before the half was over Taylor Whipple would get one past the keeper from a break away of her own putting the score at 1-2.

The second half Carlisle turned up the heat and dominated the remainder of the game. The tough defense of Ashton Goodhue-Nolte, Katie Rick and Sierra Andreas frustrated Grimes breaking up nearly every drive and keeper Victoria Carra would easily scoop up every attempted shot. Mid fielders Taylor Nelson, Morgan Fox, Emily Loomis, Jessica Payne and Jade Gibson battled for loose balls giving Carlisle several scoring opportunities. First Maddie Roberts would put one in the corner with a nice side foot shot that easily fooled the keeper. Then Taylor Whipple would put in another goal with a one touch shot off a beautiful throw in to the middle of the goal from Ashton. The next goal would come off the foot of Maddie from a nice crossing pass from Lindsey Kamerick putting the score at 4-2. With the game winding down it looked as though Carlisle would easily walk away with the win, but the last two minutes got interesting as Grimes would score a easy goal from a fumbled drop kick. Then with less than one minute left, Grimes had a corner kick and would have a chance to tie the game. The Crush fought to clear the ball but were able to carry the ball to mid field marking the end of the game and their first victory of the season. Players of the game were Madison Staecker for successfully performing the most pull backs and Lindsey for hustle.

The u12 CRUSH traveled to play a re-scheduled game Tuesday night against their arch rivals, Johnston. The CRUSH had played them three times before with Johnston beating them on their home field 0-2 at their last meeting. The Crush were determined to get a victory this time and turned the game into one of the most physical and exciting games they had ever played. Defenders Ashton Goodhue-Nolte, Victoria Carra and Amanda Hardin frustrated Johnston by blocking out and shoulder tackling every forward or mid fielder that would try to drive the ball to the goal. And the mid fielders would skillfully pass the ball to keep possession for the majority of the first half. Katy Rick would blast one to the back of the net for the first and only goal of the half.

With Carlisle dominating possession the first half and usually playing their best the second half, coach Whipple thought they had Johnston on the ropes and for the first 10 minutes of the half it looked as though he was correct. The Crush would win the ball and score another goal off the foot of Jessica Payne who took on three defenders and still got the ball in the net. But Johnston began to dominate the mid field and would challenge Carlisle’s new keeper Morgan Fox with shot after shot. Morgan did an outstanding job making save after save showing great determination, only having played keeper one time before and had never saw the barrage of shots like she was seeing against Johnston. One goal would eventually get by, putting the score at 2-1. With Johnston having so many scoring opportunities it looked as though they might make a come back. But the Crush’s defense battled and were able to clear the ball. The whistle would finally blow with Carlisle pulling off the 2-1 victory and the fans were on their feet screaming for one of the most exciting games of the year. Player of the game goes to Emily Loomis for performing the most pull backs. Special recognition goes to three players for successfully puling off advanced moves: Katy Rick (Maradona 360), Madison Staecker (double cut) and Taylor Whipple (double cut).