News for the Week of Oct. 10, 2011

Program Notes for the Week of 10/10/11:

Schedule:
Two games this week for the JV/Varsity.  On Monday 10//10, we play Solon at home with JV at 5:00 p.m. and Varsity at 7:00 p.m.   Then on Saturday, we travel to Toledo to take on Sylvania Northview with JV at 11:00 a.m. and Varsity at 1:00 p.m.

The Freshmen team has one game left on Wednesday 10/12 at Troy vs. Medina at
5:00 p.m.

Game Recaps:
It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to update the blog, so let's catch up:

Game Summary AL vs. Magnificat 10/8/11:
The game was our first annual "Kicks for the Cure" promotion to both increase awareness and to raise funds for breast cancer research. Both Magnificat and Avon Lake played in special pink themed uniforms. Both teams have been holding fundraising events over the course of the season and the Shoregals will raise $2,000 to support the cause. Also, Mercy Hospital sponsored the game and provided matching fundraising amounts to both schools.


As for the game itself, Magnificat defeated Avon Lake by a score of 4-2. Magnificat jumped out to an early lead on the strength of two goals scored within a minute by senior Natalie Guido and sophomore Natalie Coury. In the second half, Avon Lake made a bid to get back into the game behind two goals from senior Jillian Strimbu. Junior Claire Jones assisted on one of the goals. However, the Blue Streaks countered with two goals of their own by Coury again and sophomore Jaycie Brown to provide the winning margin. In goal for the Shoregals was Dana Strimbu who made 8 saves and for Magnificat goalie Amanda Copfer picked up the win with 2 saves.


Game Summary AL vs. Brecksville 10/5/11:

Avon Lake facing their second state ranked foe this week in Brecksville was beaten in a key Southwestern Conference match by a score of 2-1. The Shoregals gave the Lady Bees, ranked 8th in the state in Div. I all they could handle in this match. This comes on the heels of a 5-1 loss to #1 ranked Strongsville on Monday where the Shoregals played
the powerhouse Mustangs even in the first half before succumbing in the 2nd stanza. In this game, a scoreless first half was punctuated by several excellent scoring opportunities by both teams. The pace picked up in the second half with the Shoregals nearly scoring first as sophomore Emily O'Connor took a shot that hit the cross bar square but did not cross the goal line before it was cleared off by the Bee defense. Luck was not with the Shoregals in their 13th game of the season as the Lady Bees ultimately scored first on a penalty kick by junior midfielder Allison Stucky at the 52:00 mark. Eight minutes later Avon Lake tied the game on a hard shot by senior Cheyenne Lukstein which deflected off a Brecksville defender and past the Bee goalie. The game winner came with just six minutes remaining as junior Sarah Sivic scored on a pass from Stucky. In goal for Brecksville was junior Jena Lopez who made 7 saves. Senior
Shoregal goalie Dana Strimbu recorded 7 saves also. With the win Brecksville remains atop the SWC with a 5-0-0 record, while Avon Lake drops to 4-2-1 in SWC play.

In JV play. the Shoregals emerged victorious 1-0 on a goal by Molly Jeffries assisted by Karen Krause.


Game Summary AL vs. North Olmsted 9/28:

Despite injuries to a number of key players and still reeling from a lopsided loss to Rocky River on Monday, Avon Lake put together a marvelous team effort to eke out a 1-0 victory over North Olmsted. Sophomore forward Emily O'Connor battling an
ankle injury entered the game for the first time with 22 minutes to go and sparked the Shoregal attack. In the 70th minute, she took a pass from junior midfielder Kailey McClain and got past several defenders to put the ball in the back of the Eagle
net for the only goal of the match. With the injuries, every Shoregal player needed to play her role perfectly and the AL defense came up with a big performance in the win. In goal, Avon Lake senior Dana Strimbu recorded her 6th shutout of the season.
For the Eagles, freshman goalkeeper Rachel Sadlon did a terrific job ending up with 6 saves in the game.

Game Summary AL vs. Rocky River 9/26:

Rocky River scored in the first minute of the game and kept up the offensive pressure from there scoring 4 more times for a 5-1 victory over host Avon Lake. Scoring first for the Pirates was junior Hallie McCue who in the first minute struck a ball from 30 yds. out just under the crossbar.  At the 20 minute mark, Sophomore Grace Bennett sent a shot from the left side of the box to the back of the net for a 2-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Rocky River scored twice within a minute at the 46:00 mark with senior Morgan Berg and Bennett again both netting goals. The scoring was capped off with a late goal by sophomore Abby Elinsky. The lone Shoregal goal was scored by senior Jillian Strimbu off a corner kick from the right side by fellow senior Rachel Gates. In net for Rocky River was senior Kim Leitch who made 3 saves and for Avon Lake senior Dana Strimbu recorded 5 saves. Rocky River, who is ranked 7th in the state in Div.II, kept their undefeated record in tact at 11-0-1, while Avon Lake drops to 6-2-2.

In JV action, Avon Lake was a 2-0 winner.

Game Summary AL vs. Lake Catholic 9/24/11:

Avon Lake scored 2 goals in the first half and the defense made it stand up in a 2-0 win over visiting Lake Catholic. The Shoregals scored in the first minute of the game on a beautiful shot to the right "upper 90" by sophomore forward Emily O'Connor assisted by senior midfielder Jillian Strimbu. At the 22 minute mark of the first half, Strimbu scored on a penalty kick. The Cougars best scoring opportunity of the night came in the second half as a hard shot by Bella Osborne was blocked by Shoregal goalie Dana Strimbu and the rebound was shot again by Osborne and cleared out by the AL defense just before crossing the goal line. Dana Strimbu made 5 saves and recorded her 5th shutout of the season for the Shoregals. Lake Catholic goalie Marissa Brannon was credited with 4 saves.

In JV action, Avon Lake scored a whopping 10 goals on the way to a 10-1 victory over the JV Cougars.

Game Summary AL vs. Olmsted Falls 9/21/11:
Avon Lake scored 5 goals in the first half on the way to a 7-0 win over Olmsted Falls.
The Lady Bulldogs played hard the whole game and put up a valiant effort despite missing a number of their top players due to injury. Avon Lake led off the scoring in the 14th minute on a goal by senior Danielle Liszka assisted by Jillian Strimbu. Less than a minute later the Shoregals struck again on a goal by sophomore Emily O'Connor also assisted by Strimbu. In the final 11 minutes of the first half, Avon Lake struck 3 more times - first by junior Kailey McClain from Christine Gates, then Gates scored assisted by Strimbu, and finally Strimbu scored with senior Taylor Nedrich with the assist.
Second half goals were scored by McClain again this time assisted by Claire Jones and the scoring was closed out with a goal by Jillian Strimbu off a long pass from Nedrich.
In goal for Avon Lake was Dana Strimbu who made 4 saves and recorded her 4th shutout of the season. Minding the net for the Lady Bulldogs was Madison Woods who recorded 8 saves.

Game Summary AL vs. Hathaway Brown 9/19/11:

In a wild affair on a rainy afternoon that featured 9 goals scored, Avon Lake was able to slosh by Hathaway Brown 5-4. The Shoregals continue to play a high level schedule that features both nationally ranked and state ranked teams with a combined winning percentage of over 60% in 2010. On this afternoon, the opponent was 2010 State Div. II runner-up Hathaway Brown and it took a true team effort to earn the victory as 5 different girls scored for the Shoregals. The goals were netted by senior midfielder
Jillian Strimbu, sophomore forward Emily O'Connor, senior midfielder Rachel Gates, who scored her first Varsity goal, and senior midfielder Danielle Liszka. The game winner was booted in by senior midfielder Haley Mills for her first goal of the year.
Dana Strimbu was in goal for Avon Lake and recorded the victory.

Game Summary AL vs. Midpark 9/14/11:

Facing a packed in defense that stifled Avon Lake most of the game, the Shoregals managed only a goal in a 1-0 victory over host Midpark. The Shoregals were still able to manage 10 shots on goal despite the spirited defensive effort by the Meteors. The Avon Lake goal was scored by senior midfielder Jillian Strimbu on an assist from junior midfielder Kailey McClain. Dana Strimbu recorded her third shutout of the young season and made 4 saves while Meteor goalie Sam Thompson was kept busy stopping 9 shots.

In JV action, the Shoregals emerged victorious by 2-0 score on goals by junior Kersten Kress and freshman Clare Adams. Junior goalkeeper Abby Rogers recorded the shutout.


Game Summary AL vs. Valley Forge 9/12:

On an early Senior night at Avon Lake, the Shoregals pounded the Valley Forge defense with 18 shots on goal and 11 corner kicks resulting in a 4-1 victory. The Patriots led off the scoring in the 8th minute on a goal by senior Jessica Mertens who picked up a ball about 40 yds. out and dribbled through the AL defense to deliver a hard shot into the Shoregal goal. After that point, it was all Shoregals as senior Taylor Nedrich netted the game tying tally just before halftime as she intercepted a pass at the top of the box and fired a shot into goal. Nedrich scored again in the second half at the 45 minute mark with the eventual game winner. Then it was junior Kailey McClain's turn. She scored at the 56 minute mark as she found some space in the middle of the Valley Forge defense. One minute later she scored again on a great assist from sophomore Emily O'Connor. The Patriot goalkeepers were kept very busy on the night with freshman Brooke Zoltai making 9 saves and fellow freshman Gabrielle DeLaat making 5 stops. Senior Dana Strimbu was in goal for Avon Lake and made 2 saves. The Shoregals up their record to 2-1-2 while Valley Forge falls to 3-4-1.