2012 Virginian: Day one wrap from U-16 girls

U16 Girls Virginian Cup/Premier Silver
The day began with an 8 a.m. match-up between Alliance SC Legacy 95, MD and Steel Town Magic 96G, PA which Alliance would win 3-0. Perhaps more important than the result of the match was that the teams were able to play in the morning slot before the sun was in full force. Both teams had games later in the day as well, and because of the early start time would have ample time to stay inside and rest.

At 9:15, BAC Apex, VA and Beach FC, VA played to a 1-1 tie in what was a physical, defensive match. Kristen Ellis netted the first goal of the match for Beach FC, lofting an amazing chip shot from 20 yards out with such sharp arch that the keeper was unable to make any sort of attempt at a save. In the second half, Apex responded early, scoring a goal on a perfectly-placed cross from Kristie Kelly. The rest of the match was a battle of attrition, and the Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS) team ended up in a deadlock with the Virginia Beach travel league squad.

“We’ve been looking forward to the Virginian a lot because most of the local tournaments we’ve been doing, with the exception of Virginian, it’s always the same teams,” said BAC Apex coach Larry Rice after the game. “It’s fun to play teams like Beach FC. They’re a great team and it’s great competition.”

The 10:30 match was between LaPlata Knights, MD and SYC Xplosion, VA. The game began as a barnburner, with SYC Xplosion taking a big early lead and LaPlata Knights answering with a vengeance. Katie Voegtlin opened the scoring for SYC Xplosion, and just minutes later a handball inside the box gave Kristine Clark a penalty kick, which she blasted into the right side of the goal to give her team a 2-0 advantage. LaPlata Knights’ Jade Johnson responded with two phenomenal individual efforts, scoring two goals and knotting the game at 2-2, but Clark and Voegtlin each added another goal in the final minutes of the match and SYC Xplosion escaped with a 4-2 win.

“Katie [Voegtlin] is a goal-scorer,” said SYC Xplosion coach Tom Venn. “She always has a nose for the goal and if you give her an ample opportunity she’s going to put the ball in the net. She [and Clark] work hard and they always deserve what they get.”