CCA improves to 10-4-1

Christian Central Academy's girls varsity soccer team (10-4-1) defeated Maryvale, 5-3, and Park, 7-4, and lost to North Collins, 2-1, and Mount St. Mary, 9-0.

At North Collins, it was a hard fought contest with the score tied at 1-1 until the last 48 seconds when North Collins scored on a corner kick to go ahead by one and claim the victory. Freshman Rachel Cook scored CCA's only goal, unassisted. CCA managed several breakaways in the second half but could put any other shots in the net.

The Maryvale game proved to be a struggle for CCA despite the 5-3 win. CCA had only six starters and only 12 players. CCA went out early with two scores from Cook (senior Melanie Colson, junior Faye-Lyne Noel) and a third tally by senior Elizabeth Johnson, unassisted, her first of the year.

In the second half, Noel (senior Lauren Albrecht) had a nice shot on the net. In the last 20 minutes, CCA allowed three unanswered goals, but Noel (Cook) did find the net near the end of the game.

The Park contest was played on a windy day which made all shots and passes difficult to make. In the first half, Cook tallied three goals with two assists from sophomore Ruth Rissinger and one by Emelie Gidley.

Park scored once in the first half to make it 4-1 in favor of CCA. In the second half, Gabe Villar (Noal) netted a goal. Other CCA goals were scored by: Cook (Gidley) and Noel, unassisted. Park kept itself in the game by scoring three more to end the game.

CCA played a tough game against its strongest opponent this year, Mount St. Mary, which is ranked 11th in Western New York Small Schools.

The contest was one-sided, especially because CCA played half the game with 11 players and actually finished the game with nine healthy players. It was the first time CCA was shut out this year. Although a tough loss, CCA played a tough second half and never quit.

After fifteen games, CCA's Cook has 31 goals and four assists, already a school record, beating Noel's last year's record of 24. Noel has ten goals and ten assists. Other CCA scorers include: Megan Salzman (five goals) and Villar (four goals, three assists).

Defensive work horses on the team are: seniors Abby Wittlinger, Rachel and Sarah Caputi, and Salzman. Before the MSM contest, the four defenders helped keep the goals against below 2.3 per game.

CCA is in first place in the Independent Athletic Conference with a 3-0 record.