Three First Half Goals Push Raptors Past Athena

Alezya Brown (#15)

The Raptors had a solid outing Saturday, dominating Athena by a score of 4-1.

Alezya Brown opened up the scoring burst for the Raptors, scoring early in the game. Emily Harling took a far shot from half, the Athena goalkeeper bobbled the shot, and Brown was there to put away the rebound. Abby Scanlan would score the eventual game-winner not long after. After guest player, Kailie Regan, received a throw-in from Charley London, she was able to beat her defender in the corner and put a cross into the box. Scanlan made the run from the midfield to the back post and for the header goal. Late in the half, guest player, T'Mia Kitchings, added the insurance goal. After the Athena goalkeeper attempted to clear the ball with her feet, Kitchings intercepted the clear and scored on the open net, giving the Raptors a 3-0 lead going into halftime.

Athena came out with some urgency in the second, getting a quality scoring chance early in the half. Lauren Wehling faced a partial breakaway, but made a diving save near post to keep the 3-0 lead. Athena was able to get one on the board, after capitalizing on a failed clearance attempt, Wehling got caught too high, and the shot was able to get over top of her. Athena would continue their offensive flurry with five corner kicks in a row. While Albion's defense was able to keep the ball out of the net, they were just unable to get the ball cleared. Athena had three good opportunities to take the lead during this stretch, but Wehling turned them all away. The first attempt came off a header at the far post, Wehling dove across to keep it out. The second was a great reactionary save with a tip over the crossbar, after an Athena player got a quick shot from the six yard box. One the last corner kick, Wehling stopped a big 1v1 opportunity at the near post. The Raptors made sure to get the last goal, this time coming from Regan. Off another throw-in from London, Regan brought the ball down, turned, and finished a ball shot from the corner of the 18 for the fourth goal.

Next Saturday, the Raptors will finish their first session of the Glacier Ridge Soccer League, facing off against Rush-Henrietta at 8:00 PM.