Raptors Come Just Short of Championship Game in Wilson

Charley London (#11)

The Albion Raptors U16 team competed in the Wilson Tournament this weekend, missing a chance into the championship game by just a few points. Because of the small amount of teams, Albion was forced to play up an age division in the U17 bracket, they played well despite it, but were unable to get the results.

The Raptors started off the weekend with a rematch against the Hilton Heat, who the U17 Raptors just lost to 4-3 this past Wednesday. It was Hilton who was able to get on the board first, with an early scramble in the box with a cross through the 6 and then put back across to an open Hilton player for an easy finish. It wouldn't take Albion long to respond, though. Claire Squicciarini was up to take the corner kick, and delivered a ball to the back post to guest player, Maija Young (Brockport). Young was able to bring the ball down with her chest and get a shot off through traffic for the tying goal. The game-winning goal came in the second half from outside back, Aly Knaak. Knaak lined up for a free kick from about 50 yards out, and put her shot in the far upper corner. Goalkeeper, Brynn Walczak, came up big in the second half with two 1v1 saves.

Their second game of the day was against Niagara Pioneer. With the wind picking up and going straight down the field, the Raptors had a tough first half ahead of them. Pioneer was able to get their first goal early on a corner kick. With the ball delivered near post, Albion was not able to clear the ball and get out of the scramble, going down 1-0. It was another corner kick that caused the second goal. This time the Raptors defense was able to get the ball out of the box, but it popped right out to a Pioneer player, who was able to slip in the far post. Albion had to battle defensively most of the half, with Walczak making another couple of huge saves. The second half drew more chances for the Raptors, but they were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.

Coming into Sunday's game against the Lockport Lightning, Albion was down one point to them since Lockport ended with one shutout on Saturday. Albion was able to get the first goal, with an early run from Abby Scanlan. She was able to pick the ball off and get behind the defense, when she chipped the ball over the keeper for the goal. The Raptors defense struggled with Lockport's speed up top, and they were able to get behind the back line for a 1v1 with goalkeeper, Kailey Merrill, for the tying goal. Before the end of the half, though, Albion was able to regain the lead when Scanlan won the ball along the sideline, and put a ball straight through the box and over the Lockport keeper's hands. The Lightning were able to tie it up again ten minutes into the second half, when one of their forwards was able to get behind the defense again. Knowing that they needed a win to advance to the final, Albion shifted into a 3-5-2 to try to get more offense. Right before the change, though, Lockport took the lead when a slow rolling shot into the box deflecting off an Albion defender and past Merrill. With less than ten minutes to go in the game, the Raptors tried to get back in the lead with a couple of quality chances, but were unable to capitalize. The Lightning added their fourth goal after taking advantage of a defensive breakdown in the box.

The Raptors will get back into RDYSL play this week, with an away game against Chili Attack on Wednesday at 6:30 PM.