Revolution U-12 knots tie with Lancaster

The Amherst Revolution U-12 Girls Soccer Club took its show on the road playing the U-13 Lancaster Warriors at the Lancaster "flats" on July 24. The Revolution outshot the home squad, 27-5, but was unable to find the back of the net enough and settled for a 2-2 draw.

Coming out very fast for the Revolution were Carissima Cutrona, Nika Berrafato, Courtney Kramer, Kaitlyn Neese, Kaitlin Walsh, Shannon Doughty, Morgaine Houston, Alicia Girard, Annie Garcia, Cathryn Mahon, Angela Sobotka, Katie Cohen, and Alyssa Cartwright.

Although the U13 Warriors were larger than the U-12 girls from Amherst, the younger girls gave a clinic of how to play soccer. A great defensive effort, along with fantastic ball control, passing and creative playmaking marked this game for the Revolution.

However, luck was not with the Revolution. Kramer nearly scored early after making a wonderful run down the right sideline, leaving three Warriors behind her, but unfortunately, her shot hit the right post. Cutrona put in the first Revolution goal after retrieving the rebound off the right post on her own shot. Shortly before half, a scrum developed at about the 18-yard mark of the Revolution goal. As the Revolution defense was about to clear the ball, a Warrior stepped up and kicked a wild shot that curved by two defenders and just inside the left post. Other than that unfortunate play, first half goalkeeper Christine Murphy made a couple of good stops and her aggressive attacking style allowed her to play balls to safety before a Lancaster player could touch it.

In the second half, Kramer, playing one of her best games of the year, received a beautiful crossing pass from Sobotka and found the back of the net, making for a 2-1 Revolution lead.

Late in the game, a mix-up on defense left a Lancaster player alone from about 25 yards from the Revolution net. She place a high kick just over second half keeper Mohan's outstretched hands and tied it with five minutes left.

The Revolution never quit, trying but unable to secure the winning goal.

Lancaster seemed resigned to settling for a tie, as they kept all their players back deep in the defense zone for the rest of the game in an attempt to clog up the Revolution's patented passing game. The tie did stop the Revolution's seven-game winning streak but not their eight-game unbeaten streak.