U12 girls soccer squad wins tight 2-1 final over Almaden
SAN JOSE – The Orchard Valley Tornadoes traveled to San Jose to take on a surprisingly tough Rascals team, and were happy to come away with the win to push their record to 3-0 in league play. The Tornadoes were unable to score early in the first half despite very good offensive pressure, and the Rascals broke on top 1-0. The Tornadoes gave up the goal to their season long bugaboo, the corner kick. The Tornadoes were in excellent position to defend the play, but the Orchard Valley defender was unable to make contact with the ball on the long cross, and it bounced directly to a Rascals forward who promptly drilled it into the net.
The Tornadoes kept up the offensive pressure, with the front line of Alex Seda, Clarissa Hammer, and Lexi MacPhail, and midfielders Amanda Whitling, JC Clayton, Taylor Johnson, Mary Thatcher, and Amanda Kline maintaining possession throughout most of the game. The Tornadoes were finally able to break through when Taylor Johnson made a nice cross to Clarissa Hammer, who beat the goalie to tie the score. The score remained 1-1 at the halftime break.
The Tornadoes continued to mount good offensive pushes in the second half, and were finally able to pull ahead when, as aptly described by an OV supporter, Bella Comin “bent it like Beckham” with a beautiful arcing shot over the goalie’s head from about thirty yards out on the right wing. That was all the Tornadoes defense would need, as Sarah Block, Cloey LemMon, Lindsey Pund, and Stephanie Wan kept the Rascals from mounting any further serious threats to goalie Nichole Downing.
The Tornadoes have a two week break, and then take on the Foothill Cyberrays at the Morgan Hill Soccer Complex.
