Another Championship at Warsaw Tournament

Bropst, Elisa (2)

The Albion Raptors 1 and 2 competed this weekend in the Warsaw Indoor Tournament. This week, Albion Raptors 1 was made up of Nikki Creasey, Kenzi Hapeman, Emily Harling, Charley London, Lean Pritchard, Abby Scanlan, Claire Squicciarini, and goalkeeper, Sydney Mulka. Albion Raptors 2 included Cici Becker, Olivia Bieber, Elisa Bropst, Bonnie DiCureia, Grace Elschker, Kailey Merrill, Belen Rosario, and goalkeeper, Alison Gibson.

Raptors 1 started off their day with a 2-1 loss against Warsaw 2. Warsaw was able to capitalize on a couple defensive breakdowns. Kenzi Hapeman was able to bring the Raptors within one in the last five minutes, but they were unable to even the score. In their second game, they faced off against Warsaw 1 and came out on top with a 3-1 win. After going down 1-0 early, Hapeman got the scoring going to tie it up. Abby Scanlan added the game-winner with an assist from Emily Harling, then the insurance goal from Claire Squicciarini. Their final pool play game finished with a 4-3 win over Northwest. With back and forth scoring all game, the Raptors were able to never get behind, battling back from a couple ties. Scanlan started off the scoring early off a pass from Squicciarini. Scanlan doubled the lead after Squicciarini hustled back to strip the ball away from a Warsaw player and passed back to Harling. Harling sent a great through ball to Scanlan for the goal, Squicciarini then added a goal of her own to go up 3-2 from Leah Pritchard. Nikki Creasey scored the game winner after she intercepted a pass from the Warsaw keeper and finished the 1v1.

The Albion Raptors 2 played a great tournament despite the score sheet. Albion started off against a strong Northwest team, losing 4-0. While majority of the game was 1-0 and evenly matched, the Raptors started to fade in the last five minutes. Northwest capitalized on their opportunities and put their last three goals in. Their second game finished with a 5-1 loss over the eventual #1 seed, Warsaw 2. Warsaw was able to go up 2-0, before CiCi Becker was able to score and bring the Raptors within one. Albion couldn't keep the momentum going and Warsaw came out on top. In their final pool play game, they faced off against Letchworth, losing 2-1 in a heart-breaker finish. The Raptors were able to get the first goal of the game early when Olivia Bieber dribbled down the side and finished her shot. The Raptors were able to control most of the game, even after Letchworth tied it up. In the last two minutes, after a poor no-call on a blatant trip in Albion's defensive end, Letchworth found the back of the net in a scramble to get the 2-1 lead.

Albion Raptors 1 finished pool play with 17 points, earning them the #3 seed in playoffs, they were set to play the #2 seed, Northwest. Unlike their high scoring meeting in pool play, the match finished 1-0 in favor of Albion. After a very back and forth first half of the game, Scanlan was able to score the game winner and the Raptors controlled most of the second half. The win put them in the championship against Warsaw 1. A very physical and intense game from the start, Albion consistently maintained their lead to win 3-2. Scanlan opened up the scoring with an assist from Leah Pritchard. Scanlan was then able to add an unassisted goal to put the Raptors up 2-0. Warsaw was able to bring themselves within one off a scramble in front of the net. It wasn't long before Squicciarini was able to put the Raptors up by two again, finishing a great cross from Scanlan. More poor officiating led to an out of control game, with a questionable penalty shot call. Sydney Mulka came up with a huge save on the PK to deny the Warsaw player. Warsaw was able to get the last goal, but Albion was able to hold onto the lead for the championship.

The Albion Raptors turf team will see action again tonight at 9:00 PM against FC Dynamo ROC for the start of the LSYL Playoffs.