Niki Cunningham Sports Editor
Ereporter: Bob Nielsen
he U-14 Lassen Arsenal played their season opener in Reno on Saturday, against the Carson Valley Warriors. In their first showing in the competitive division of the Great Basin Youth Soccer League, the girls from Susanville turned some heads. In the first few minutes of the game, the ball went back and forth until Lassen found their touch, and then they kept the Warriors on the defensive for the next 15 minutes. Amber Jackson kept the defense of balance between her quick footwork and bursts of speed. She sent several dangerous crosses into Natalie Folkman, Lily Francois, and Brittney Patton, but the ball never quite found the back of the net. Finally, Patton made a nice pass to Jackson in the center about 20 yards out, who buried a shot over the leaping goalie, and Lassen had a 1-0 lead.
Although down, the Warriors were quick to respond, and within a couple of minutes they found a hole in the Lassen defense, and put the ball in the corner of the net to tie the game. A couple of minutes later, another Warrior followed up a shot that came out of the keepers hands, and took the lead 2-1. It was the last goal that goalkeeper Sam Magarrell would allow, and Arsenal quickly closed the gaps, and once again put the Warriors on their heels. A few minutes later, Lexie Robinson came in for a hurt Magarrell, who was injured while saving a break away, and held the Warriors scoreless the rest of the first half. Lily Buehler had a nice shot from 30 yards out, and Jackson put a couple more shots on net, but the Warrior’s keeper was able to keep the score 2-1 after the first 35 minute half.
Lassen came out a little flat after the half and gave up a quick goal off of some miscommunication. Shaking off the score, Lassen kicked up the pressure again, and Jackson led the offense down the field time and time again, making the Warriors put two or three defenders on her to contain her. Even still, she had several break-away opportunities and a couple of good shots that were deflected by the goalie. She had 2 free kicks up high that were barely deflected to save goals, and in the closing minutes, the Warriors found a long ball that got through the Lassen defense that came down to a foot race. The striker beat the defender, and was able to sneak the ball past Robinson in goal, to bring the score to 4-1. Overall, Robinson played a very solid 50 minutes in goal, gathering saves from direct shots, 1 on 1 shots, and crosses.
It was clear to all who watched that the score could easily have been 4-1 in either team’s favor, and that the Carson Valley Warriors were lucky to come away with a win on opening day. The Lassen side will need to work hard on their bye-week to close the defensive gaps and work on controlling the midfield. Lassen is in action again on Friday, April 22 as they face the Sagebrush Patriots, and again on Saturday, April 23 as they face the Black Diamonds. Both games will be played at the South Valleys Regional Sports Complex
