Sports Digest Sports Digest (September 17, 2004)

Rage Under-19 defeats San Ramon Impact

Pleasanton Rage Al Caffodio Under-19 girls dominated in a 5-1 soccer victory over San Ramon Impact on Saturday, Sept.11. Starting off aggressively, Pleasanton scored two goals in first five minutes. Four players scored, including two goals by Sarina Madnick, one by Jenny Morss, Haley Saxton and a PK by Mindy Brown. Top defensive players were Jana Grant and Kacie Buna.
Rage Under-15 girls wallops Fremont Velocity

Megan Gomez racked up five goals, while Ashley Royer and Alicia Fraticelli both racked up a pair of assists as the Pleasanton Rage Under-15 Division 3 team kicked off league play by blasting the Fremont Velocity 6-0.

Beginning with the opening kick-off, the Rage kept the pressure on and scored eight minutes in the game.

Fraticelli tracked down a cross-field pass from Gomez on the right side of the goal after carrying it into the box. Fraticelli unleashed a long cross to the far post where Jamie Thurman used her body to redirect the pass into the net.

At that point in the game, it was Gomez' show, scoring her first goal of the afternoon within six minutes.

Royer carried the ball down the middle and across the midfield stripe, where she hit a perfect through-pass on the left to Gomez. Gomez carried the ball alone into the box and went far post for a 2-0 Rage lead.

Relentless, Pleasanton out shot Fremont 23-2 in the first half.

Royer was the instigator on the next three Gomez goals. On the first, she hit a through-pass down the right side to Katie Farthing. Farthing launched a cross to the far post where Gomez was waiting with a slide that directed the cross into the net.

On the second, Royer's through-pass down the middle was first touched by a Fremont defender, but Gomez gained control of the rebound and broke in alone on the beleaguered Velocity goalie.

The Rage forward went top shelf to the near post with her shot to give the Rage a 3-0 lead.

On the next goal, Royer made a tackle at midfield and attempted a pass forward. Gomez won the battle for the ball and carried it to the box, slightly to the left of center, and her left-footed line drive shot found net just inside the right post.

Fraticelli got her second assist on the final goal of the game. Her pass cleared midfield and was chased down by Gomez, who carried it down the left side into the box, where Gomez pulled it back and went to the far post with the right foot.
Under-13 Rage girls tie Livermore Crush

Despite controlling most of the game, the Pleasanton Rage Under-13, Division 3 girls soccer team but could only come away with a 2-2 tie in their opening regular season match against the Livermore Crush.

The Rage easily demonstrated their control passing style of play throughout the game, while Livermore made the most of their opportunities. Livermore scored on a free kick at the 60-minute mark in the game off a Rage foul and two minutes later, a breakaway. Rage goalie Chelsea Skinner's defensive effort at the 18-yard box was not enough as the Crush attacker collided with the charging goalkeeper.

From the first minute, the Rage girls came out strong defensively, limiting the Crush to just five shots on the goal and pushing the ball repeatedly into their opponent's end of the field.

Nazly Bayramoglu, Scarlett Dante, Briana Snyder and Ann Palowitch consistently cleared all Crush attacks and drove the ball back into the attacking zone.

Samantha Lysaght played strong throughout the game in both the back line and midfield. Offensively, the Rage attacked the Crush goal with a total of 14 shots, connecting on two.

The Rage's first goal was followed a series of great individual efforts that made up a sensational team goal. Palowitch defeated her Crush counterpart, controlling the ball with an advancing pass to Christine Gilbert.

Gilbert then directed a perfectly placed through pass into the left attacking zone. Ailsa Smith advanced the ball 20 yards with the dribble, chopped back left to right against the Crush defender and launched a lightening shot that found the upper right corner of the net.

The Rage's second goal started with a won 50/50 ball by Smith at midfield that was followed by an advancing pass to Palowitch down the left sideline and then a through pass to Julia Frizzell.

Frizzell advanced to the inside left corner of the 18-yard box. She chopped back left to right, defeating the Crush defender and placed a shot inside the top right of the goal frame.
Mighty Tigers beat Wildcats 1-0

The Pleasanton Rage Under-10, Division 3, girls soccer team Mighty Tigers battled the Wildcats in a tight game Sept. 11 before hanging on for a one-point win.

In the first half, Emeline Kong broke away and scored for the Tigers. The Wildcats tightened their defense in front of goalies Nicole Powers and Nisha Kale to stay close.

In the second half, the Wildcats pressured the Tigers with several attacks but goalie Kasey Jensen saved all shots to preserve the victory for the Mighty Tigers.

Top offensiveplayers for the Tigers was Kong and for the Wildcats, Cassie "Scooter" Santana and Jeannette Root.

Notable defensive players were Jensen and Georgia Savage from the Mighty Tigers and the Wildcats' Claire Williams.
Ballistic United Under-14 snags opening game

The Ballistic United Under-14 boys soccer opened last weekend in Lamorinda, with an exciting win after coming from behind playing the Lamorinda FC 90.

Dillon Mullaney scored with first goal of the game unassisted after the goalie came out to challenge the ball. Dillon won the ball and placed the ball in the net.

Ending the first half in an one-up tie, Ballistic fell behind in the second 3-1. Lamorinda came back with two unanswered goals.

Ballistic persisted; assisted by David Vega, Chris Lee and Mullaney added two goals to tie the game.

With less than a minute left in the game, Ballistic's George Mayer scored off a pass from Jay Jafarpour, narrowly snatching the win.

Mark Gusha recorded the victory in goal along with defensive help from Scott Sweetnam, Matt Yankowski, Trevor Dawson and Matt Ponzini.

Ballistic's Nathan Roberts, Kenny Hunt, Shawn Daut, Aaron Lek, Stefan Rabrenovich added solid midfield play.

At the next match Sept. 12, Ballistic was not able to repeat its win. Playing FC Fremont, the team lost a decision 2-1. Fremont took an early lead and held on for the win.

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