Revolution U-12 soccer takes aim at first place

The Amherst Revolution U-12 Girls Soccer Club took aim at becoming champions at the Amherst International Memorial Soccer Tournament this past weekend and hit a bull's-eye.

Showing tremendous team spirit and playing through some very bleak moments, the Revolution kept supporting each other and overcame adversity.

The championship run started on Saturday morning, May 26 when the girls played to a 1-1 draw against a tough Pittsburgh Futbol Club. Goalkeepers Christine Murphy and Francesca Carra where kept busy as PFC came out fast and pressured the Revolution all game. Murphy made the save of the game as she dove to stop a shot but she landed backward facing the goal only to flip around to see the incoming rebound shot heading her way. Murphy reached out to stop that shot and the defense cleared the ball to safety.

The Revolution fell behind in the second half when the PFC cashed in on a penalty kick. Things looked tough as time was running out but Cathryn Mahon made the play that changed the Revolution fortunes. On an indirect kick in the Revolution zone, Mahon stole the ball, sending Margaux Gill up the middle only to be tripped up as she prepared to shoot the ball. The PFC was called for a penalty and Gill drilled her penalty kick in as time ran out to tie the game.

In the second game on Saturday, the Revolution faced a tough Buffalo United team. Gill opened the scoring on a direct kick from 25 yards out.

Defenders Shannon Doherty and Alicia Girard helped hold the back line together, making tremendous defensive plays to end many Buffalo United runs. Carissima Cutrona, Courtney Kramer, Alyssa Cartwright, Morgaine Houston, Hannah Dreger, Mahon, Katie Cohen, Carra, Annie Garcia, Angela Sobotka, Kaitlyn Neese, Sara Eichhorn, Nika Berrafato, and Kaitlyn Walsh filled the field with strong passing and ball play.

Goalkeeper Murphy kept Buffalo United off the board in the first half making some dazzling stops. In the second half, Berrafato chipped in Walsh's rebound and except for a late goal off a direct kick, the Revolution did not give Buffalo United any second half shots.

On Sunday morning, the Rochester Rhinos presented the third premier level team to face the hometown favorites. Defender Carra fed right-winger Kramer with a beautiful pass that Kramer turned into a wonderful run and shot. As the ball sailed high into the net, the Revolution led 1-0 in the first minutes of the match. Gill's indirect kick was blocked by the goalkeeper but Neese was there for a quick chip in to make it 2-0.

Things changed quickly though. Goalkeeper Murphy made a diving save on a Rhino direct kick keeping it 2-0 but just before half, the Rhinos struck gold on another direct kick from about 19 yards out.

A 2-1 half time lead became 3-1 lead for the Revolution as Neese knocked in her second goal of the game.

The Rhinos wouldn't quit, scoring again, this time on a penalty kick. Gill made the fourth and final score as she blocked a Rhino shot, allowing it to hit her back. The ball ricocheted high into the evening sky toward the Rhino goal and just over the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

The afternoon game featured the fourth premier level team, as the Rochester Futbol Club was next for the Revolution. The Revolution faced playoff elimination with a loss but playoff entrance with a victory or a draw.

Unfortunately, they fell behind 1-0 just before halftime. With only minutes left to play tournament heroine, Mahon booted in the tying goal, sending the Revolution into its Monday morning rematch with the PFC.

In the championship game held at the North French soccer field, the Revolution's character shined though as they fell behind 2-0 in the first half.

Goalkeeper Carra made the save of the game as she charged an oncoming PFC player on a breakaway. Carra ferociously lunged at the ball to make the save.

Hard work turned the tide of the game late in the second half as Berrafato chipped in a late goal closing the gap to by one. Next time down the field, Gill stole the ball and her perfect shot gave the Revolution a 2-2 tie in the last two minutes.

In overtime, Cutrona made it 3-2 Revolution, only to see the PFC squad tie it up at 3-3. Finally, with less than two minutes left in overtime, Cutrona received a pinpoint pass from Sobotka and scored the winner.

The PFC team showed true sportsmanship, congratulating the girls from Amherst as they received their AIM championship trophies.