Pioneers frustrate Faith Christian
(xSHrLHnFH Dnd FRnfidHnFH can go hand and hand, and in the case of the Christopher aock girls’ soccer team it is exactly what is going on this fall. bven the Pioneers’ sophomores have been on WKH fiHOd IRr D IuOO sHDsRn Ln the Bicentennial Athletic League and it shows in their play.
Conversely, the entire Faith Christian team is experiencing the league for the firsW WLPH Ln sFKRRO KLsWRry after years as a member of the ACCAC EAtlantic Coast Christian Athletic ConferenceF. They are seeing the game at a new speed, and on Wednesday the Pioneers sprinted to a 7-1 win.
If the Lions did not read and react immediately the RuWsLdH PLdfiHOdHrs wHrH behind their defenders and bearing down on the goalie box. Sophomore Bailey Kratz crossed a ball over to fellow sophomore Tabitha Miller in the sixth minute for WKH firsW JRDO. .rDWz WKHn finished two goals herself, one coming in the 46th minute directly from her own corner kick.
“One thing we always practice is getting through balls,” Kratz said. “Our team is really coming together. We have a lot of younger players, but the seniors are really helpful and we look up to them.”
7KLs Ls .rDWz’ firsW sHDsRn with the Pioneers. She transferred from Souderton and enriched an already dynamic sophomore class. Sophomore Olivia Seavy scored twice in the win and sophomore Mattasyn Shisler too found the back of the net.
“We have a lot of young talent here,” Pioneers’ coach Ray eess said. “I am going to play the best players and the girls play on club teams, so they aren’t raw. They have all the technical things down. We just need to put more physicality in their game. That’s where I come in. This is probably one of the most talented teams I have had in a long time.”
AIWer Whe firVW VLx gRaOV were credited to sophoPRreV, finaOOy -uOLanna .abakjian broke the mold in the 65Wh PLnuWe. .aEaNMLan LV a freshman for the Pioneers. The Lions’ junior goalkeeper Carien Barnes was active all night and made 15 saves, but her teammates struggled to counter attack.
“This season has been good for us because we are becoming better soccer players even though we are not winning,” Lions’ coach -en TRWarR VaLG. “WLWh Whe ACCAC, it was fun and no stress, but the girls did not get better. We look forward to the competitive games.”
Though the Pioneers’ senior Shea Neal did her best to shut down the Lions’ top target Rachel Shive, the senior continued to push through fatigue. bven when Shive would make one savvy move to elude a defender there would be two more Pioneers there to eliminate scoring chances.
“(veryRne Rn Whe fieOG for them was fast,” Shive said. “We tried to take quick shots, but it is an adjustment. We tried to push-up, but then I would not be expecting (Neal) and she would come out of nowhere.”
Shive barely missed netting a goal in the 15th minute as she watched her bender sail over the crossbar, but a testament to her determination she buried the Lions’ lone goal in the 20th minute. Goals have not come eaVy IRr Whe LLRnV Ln WheLr firVW season in the BAL, but Shive is leading by example and showing her younger teammates they can never give up.
“This is kind of a rude awak- ening to us because the ACCAC was easy,” Shive said. “But we will come out from this as better soccer players. I think over the next few years we will get a lot better.”
The Pioneers displayed their experience through the duration of the game and the chemistry was clear in their possession style. From club ball, to summer workouts, this team has worked hard to be playing at the current level. They expect nothing but big things to come over the next few months.
“I started soccer before school even started and that has been helpful for me,” the transIer .raWz VaLG. “, Nnew VRPe girls from club soccer and I am really happy to be here. On this team we do not see each other as freshmen and sophomores. We are just a team.”