Rage Under 14s come home winners Rage Under 14s come home winners (August 19, 2005)

Smart plays build scores
By Dan Skinner

The Pleasanton Rage Under 14 D3 team sliced its way through its first tournament of the year last weekend, placing second in San Rafael’s Claire Ann O’Neil Mission Bell.

The Rage team began its play with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Diablo Valley Synergy. In the first 5 minutes, Ann Palowitch advanced the ball from the back line, placing a perfect pass onto the feet of Samantha Lysaght. Pinning the defender on her hip, Lysaght turned left to right and drove the ball into the upper left corner of the net for the score.

The second score of the game came in the 26th minute. The Rage earned a corner kick and Lisa Grau drove the kick into the goal box. Ailsa Smith one touched the ball left to right and fired a shot near post and high into the net. The final score came in the second half when Chelsea Skinner controlled the ball in the mid field, passing it into the corner where Cheyenne Murray crossed it to a waiting Lysaght. She turned again, this time to the left and defeated the goalie with a left footed rocket.

In the afternoon match, the Rage U14 posted another victory, this time by a scoring margin of 4-1. Playing against the Walnut Creek Adrenaline, the Rage started the scoring early with a familiar scene.

Palowitch passed the ball wide to Lisa Grau, who crossed it to the far post. A charging Murray redirected the ball into the goal. Taylor Schoonover then scored the second Rage goal off a Lysaght pass

The Adrenaline cut the margin in half in the 48th minute off a direct kick that found the upper left corner of the net

The Rage came roaring back, scoring twice more before the end of the game. The first came off a Sarah Ramirez cross which was headed by Alexa Arvin onto Ailsa Smith’s foot, who shot the ball into the goal. The final score was a Walnut Creek own goal off a bending Grau corner kick.

On Sunday, the Rage team finished its undefeated run through the qualifying games with a 2-0 victory against a strong West Marin United club.

The Rage started the scoring on a Grau cross that Briana Edmundson controlled and shot inside the right post. Edmundson added a second goal late in the first half off a Courtney Wagner cross, finishing the game’s scoring.

In the Sunday afternoon championship game, the Rage took on a very talented Rohnert Park Heat. After battling scoreless into the final seconds of the first half, the Heat snuck one into the goal when the Rage had difficulty clearing the ball out of the goalie box.

The Heat then scored twice more in the second half to bring the final result to 0-3.

Under 16s come up short in Petaluma tourney

The Pleasanton Rage Under 16 team came home disappointed from its 7th Annual Kickin’ Chicken Soccerfest in Petaluma, finding it difficult to put points up on the scoreboard despite many shots at the goal. The team was held scoreless in all three games over the weekend.

Last Saturday, they played the Wesco Chivas and Sonoma SC, losing 3-0 and 1-0, respectively. Their best opportunity was against Sonoma, which scored its single goal early in the match. Even so, with 20 shots on frame, including seven by Megan Gomez, the Rage team came up short.

Sunday morning, the Pleasanton girls returned to action against the Folsom Edge, but again came away short, losing 3-0. -Dan Skinner
Time to register for Pony travel team

Registration is under way for the Pony 2006 "Travel Team" for all players who are 14 years old or younger.

Registration forms now available on the Pony Wed site at www.pleasantonpony.com or at All Star Sports, 3037 Hopyard Rd.

Travel team tryouts will be held at Bill Payne fields in Livermore from 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 1o, 17 and 24, and on Oct. 1.

Tryouts for 11 and under, 12 and under and 13 and under teams will be announced shortly. Players must be pre-registered. For more information, call 925-600-PONY.
Tri-Valley Babe Ruth hosts skills clinic

Tri-Valley Babe Ruth Baseball will once again host its annual Fall Skills Clinic from 9 to noon Sunday, Sept. 11 at Camp Parks in Dublin. Snack bar will be open during lunch break. Open to players 11 to 15 years old, registration will start at 8:30 a.m.

Instructors will include local high school and college coaches, as well as Babe Ruth coaches and managers.

For more information contact Ryan Rodriguez at (916) 933-8803.

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