Sports Digest Sports Digest (September 24, 2004)

Rage U13 defeats Danville Stampede

The Pleasanton Rage Under-13, Division 3 girls battled a strong Danville Stampede team and came away with a well-earned 1-0 victory.

The Rage defense played a leading role in the victory; limiting the Stampede to only six shots on goal and no scores.

From the opening whistle the Rage knew that they were in for a battle. Both teams came ready to play and the ball yo-yoed from one end of the field to the other.

The Stampede generated stronger offensive opportunities in the first half; however the Rage defense consistently met the challenge. Nazly Bayramoglu, Scarlett Dante, Briana Snyder and Ann Palowitch played as a single unit covering for each other and successfully cleared the Stampede attack.

Goalie Chelsea Skinner played aggressively; coming off her line to cut off the shooter's angle and gathering the loose balls.

Offensively, the Rage generated 12 shots on goal with Ailsa Smith driving eight of those shots on the goal frame.

Stephanie Belcher, Phoebe Santos, Christine Gilbert and Julia Frizzell pushed the ball into the offensive corners and crossed it in front of the goal mouth for the on-rushing Rage attackers.

Coming off a season-long injury, Grace Vickers saw her first action of the season playing in the midfield.

The lone goal of the game came five minutes into the second half, following a Rage offensive push that resulted in a corner kick opportunity.

Dante took the kick from the left corner; sending it deep into the 18-yard box and in front of the goal.

The Stampede successfully cleared the ball out of the box; but it came out directly onto the left foot of Palowitch; who drove a left-footed bullet just under the cross bar from 26 yards out.
Rage U15 girls grab big finish

Despite a sluggish start that put them down 1-0, the Pleasanton Rage Under-15, Division 3 girls rallied for three second-half goals, including one scored as time expired, to notch a 3-1 victory over the Livermore Fusion.

For most of the first half, the Rage struggled to connect passes and adapt to Livermore's physical play. Only a stout defense, anchored by Lindsey Ellison and Alex Martin, gave Pleasanton a chance to come back, withstanding all but one of Livermore's early chances.

As the first half came to a close, the Rage girls started to shrug off lackluster play. Angie Macaulay, Brittany Kepke and Jamie Thurman all had great chances that went wide or over the top. At the seven-minute mark in the second, the Rage broke through. Megan Gomez carried down the left side, slipped by a defender deep into the box, where she pulled it out to get a better angle, although her shot was deflected by a Livermore defender.

Kristyn Hayashi, positioned at the far post, tried to head the bouncing ball home, but her attempt was batted down by the goalie. Hayashi reacted quickly, sliding after the rebound and punched it home to knot the score. The game did not stay tied for long. Ashley Royer started the action with a long throw-in from midfield. Gomez ran on to the throw, beat a slide tackle at the left top of the box and centered the ball.

Alicia Fraticelli came up quickly on the cross and blasted a shot over the goalie's head to give the Rage a 2-1 lead.

The Rage earned their final goal after being awarded an indirect kick on the left side about 30 yards from the goal.

Brooke Silva hit a cross to the far post at the top of the box where Thurman hustled in and buried a shot top shelf as time expired.
San Ramon overpowers Ballistic United U-11

The Ballistic United Under-11 team was overwhelmed 4-0 by San Ramon Sept. 18 at the first game of their season.

The speedy San Ramon forwards, playing on home field, struck twice in the first five minutes of play to take advantage of Ballistic's sluggish start and the hopes of a close-contest never materialized.

Ballistic did not recovered from the early blows as their challengers notched scores. A San Ramon right-winger caught the Ballistic defense square and converted easily for a 3-0 lead at half-time.

Several opportunities opened for Ballistic at the start of the second half, but San Ramon's swarming defense held firm. San Ramon out-paced the Ballistic's struggling defense to add a fourth and final goal mid-way through the period and San Ramon finished up taking the 4-0 game.
Ballistic U-14 takes 3-2 loss to Danville

The Ballistic United Under-14 boys soccer team faced a tough match Sept. 18 against the Danville Mustang Strikers, who emerged victors in a tight 3-2 game.

Ballistic seized an early lead on the Mustang Strikers with Chris Lee, assisted by Michael Janjigian, scoring a goal.

The Strikers fought back to not only tie the game, but take the lead.

Aaron Lek hustled down the field and intercepted a pass by the Mustang defenders before passing to Lee, who put the ball in net.

Mustang stepped up action, scoring again to take away the lead from Ballistic, who, despite strong play, could not come away with the win.

U.S. Gymsports gymnastics team went to the Golden Bear Invitational held at Golden Bear Gymnastics in Berkeley on Sept. 18. Individual results are: Level 5 Age group: 7 to 9 year olds Vault: Annaliese Miller, 5th place (7.65); Katelyn Kleinheinz, 7th place (7.15); Haley Brott, 8th place Bars: Annaliese Miller, 3rd place (8.05); Katelyn kleinheinz, 6th place; Haley Brott, 8th place Beam: Annaliese Miller, 3rd place (8.0); Katelyn Kleinheinz, 6th place; Haley Brott, 7th place Floor: Annaliese Miller, 4th place (7.9); Katelyn Kleinheinz, 7th place (7.475); Haley Brott, 8th place All around: Annaliese Miller, 3rd place (31.6); Katelyn Kleinheinz, 7th place; Haley Brott, 8th place
Age group: 10 year olds Vault: Jori Berman, 1st place (8.85); Nicole Smoot, 3rd place (8.25); Jenny Yang, 4th place (8.1) Bars: Jenny Yang, 1st place (7.65); Nicole Smoot, 2nd place (7.6); Jori Berman, 3rd place (7.5) Beam: Jenny Yang, 3rd place (8.15); Jori Berman, 4th place (8.0); Nicole Smoot, 5th place (7.0) Floor: Jori Berman, 1st place (8.425); Jenny Yang, 2nd place (8.35); Nicole Smoot, 4th place (7.775) All around: Jori Berman, 1st place (32.775); Jenny Yang, 2nd place (32.25); Nicole Smoot, 4th place (30.62)
Age group: 11 year olds and up Vault: Christina Lee, 2nd place (8.55); Kelsey Lomas, 8th place (7.0) Bars: Christina Lee, 1st place (9.0); Kelsey Lomas, 7th place Beam: Christina Lee, 1st place (9.1); Kelsey Lomas, 6th place (7.6) Floor: Christina Lee, 3rd place (8.575); Kelsey Lomas, 7th place (7.475) All around: Christina Lee, 1st place (35.225)
Level 6 Age group: 7 to 10 year olds Vault: Emma Kettering, 5th place (8.3) Bars: Emma Kettering, 5th place Beam: Emma Kettering, 4th place (7.9) Floor: Emma Kettering, 4th place (7.875) All around: Emma Kettering, 5th place (30.575)
Age group: 12 year olds and up Vault: Katie Kettering, 1st place (8.5) Bars: Katie Kettering, 3rd place Beam: Katie Kettering, 3rd place (7.75) Floor: Katie Kettering, 3rd place (8.0) All around: Katie Kettering, 2nd place (30.9)
Level 5 and 6 team: 1st place

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