Tornadoes top Power, United
GILROY – The Orchard Valley Tornadoes U12 Girls’ Competitive Class III soccer squad started a nice weekend run with a 2-1 win over the South San Jose Power.
After falling behind early, the Tornadoes solved the Power’s offsides trap to tie the score before halftime on a breakaway goal by JC Clayton – who scored the game-winner in the second half on a breakaway.
The defense, anchored by Cloey LemMon, Stephanie Wan, Taylor Johnson, Amanda Kline, Sarah Block, and Lindsay Pund, stiffened to prevent any further scoring on goalie Nichole Downing. Midfielders and forwards Clayton, Amanda Whitling, Bella Comin, Clarissa Hammer, Lexi MacPhail, Alex Seda, and Mary Thatcher controlled play throughout the game.
On Suinday, the Tornadoes really broke out of their offensive slump with a four-goal explosion against the Sunnyvale United for a 4-0 shutout win.
Taylor Johnson showed her scoring touch with three goals aided by some nice help from her friends. Johnson opened the scoring after Sarah Block made a nice leading pass to Johnson – who drilled the breakaway shot into the back of the net. Johnson scored again with a point-blank shot off a corner play on a pass from Bella Comin to make the score 2-0 at halftime.
Johnson completed the hat trick early in the second half after Amanda Kline drew the defense to her with a nice run to the endline, then dumped the ball back to Johnson who beat the goalie.
Kline then relieved Nichole Downing in goal for the Tornadoes to give Downing a turn in the field, and Downing made the most of it by scoring after two excellent setup passes. Lexi MacPhail started the play by threading the ball to Sarah Block, who in turn fed it to Downing right in front. Downing drilled the shot to the cheers of the appreciative spectators. The Tornadoes kept the pressure on until the end of the game to preserve the shutout for Downing and Kline in goal.
