Arsenal U14 girls take 2nd

The Rome team finishes as runner-up at the Smyrna Invitational to open the spring season.

The Rome YMCA Arsenal U14 girls opened the spring season by finishing second in the Smyrna Adidas Winter Invitational this past weekend.

Arsenal opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Impact SC.

Joey Kunczewksi started the scoring with a penalty kick early in the first half. The Impact netted an equalizer midway through the second, but Perry Durden connected on the game winner with less than five minutes to play off an assist from Ashley Medrano and Kunczewski to give Arsenal the win. Deyvis Reader finished with nine saves in goal.

Arsenal dropped its second game of the tournament 5-0 to FC Alliance. In the semifinals, Arsenal topped the NSA Belles 2-1.

Arsenal jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Ashley Contributed photo

The Rome YMCA Arsenal U14 girls finished second at the Smyrna Adidas Winter Invitational this past weekend. Pictured are Abigail Cooper (front row, from left), Eryelle Harris, Alexis Medrano, Ashley Medrano, Malone Christen, Payton Brown, Ashley Marin, coach Scott McCreless (back row, from left), Lizzie, Ely, Perry Durden, Joey Kunczewski, Deyvis Reader, Hayley Alred, Katelyn Clark, Izzy Galysh and coach Jim Alred. Marin scored off an assist from Medrano.

Medrano then upped the lead when she scored off a corner kick less than 10 minutes into the contest, staking Arsenal to a 2-0 lead. NSA netted a goal late in the first half, but Arsenal’s defense proved too tough with Reader grabbing 11 saves.

FC Alliance topped Arsenal in the rematch in the finals. Arsenal now has two weeks off before opening its regular season at Grizzard Park on March 4. Contributed photo

The Chargers 10U team won the 2017 Rome-Folyd Parks and Recreation Department Division 1 boys’ basketball championship this season. Pictured are Carmelo Brown (front row, from left), Jax Bishop, TJ McClinic, Moss Tant, Demarion Floyd, Avery Shiflett (second row, from left), Evan Rhodes, Chris Fife, Eli Merritt, McCain Barnes, and coaches Joey Shiflett (back row, left) and JJ Merritt. Contributed photo

The Pepperell Dragons 8U team won the 2017 Rome-Folyd Parks and Recreation Department Division 1 boys’ basketball championship this season. Pictured are Issac Rains (front row, from left), Tucker Glenn, Jamie Reed, Hoke Smith, Justin Davenport, Madoc Garcia, Luke Alford (back row, from left), Troy Barnes, Stevie J. Sapp, Aaron Wood and Landon Trotter. Coaches are Jimmy Barnes and Brandon Wood.