Ravens Relish In Triumph Over Terrors
by Coach Darkness
The eerie atmosphere of Ireland was present at the pitch as chilly temperatures and a thick fog clung to the skin. Though the sun tried to push through, it was as if Irish ancestors kept the cloud cover as a gentle reminder of where this game came from. The mist didn't dampen the spirits of the U11's though as the Comfort Keeper Ravens tried to win their first game of the season against those gritty Swick Tech Terrors.
The Terrors jumped to an early lead after the resilient Reagan “Prez” Chase fired off of a penalty shot for a Swick Tech goal. Not willing to be outscored, the Ravens began some fancy passing including a beautiful pass from Tiernan “Toothless” Moloney to rookie Rowan Karrer, who expertly drove it into the net for the Comfort Keepers. After that, both teams tightened up their defenses and blocked all further goal attempts. Pushed to the midfield, Rowan answered with a magnificently pulled point to put the Ravens ahead at the quarter. The competitiveness continued in the second quarter as Sean Patrick “Bobblehead” Fehrenbach showcased some long field solos right into the Terrors’ red zone, and scored a quick goal and point in succession. The tide was turning though as Swick Tech dug their heels into the mud and started playing catch-up. Terror Goalie Calvin “Hobbes” McKee fired his puck-outs all the way to the opposite full forwards (time to make this field bigger), almost scoring from the goalie position! That’s just what the Terrors needed for Jack “Pickles” Hardt to strong arm in a pretty goal and get Swick Tech back in the game.
The resilient Ravens were eager to return the favor, and Serena Kielley proved to be just the right girl for the job. As goalie for Comfort Keepers she showed that girls can puck-out just as far as the boys by taking a deep breath and sending a most gorgeous arcing sliotar up to the heavens, in defiance of the hiding sun! And so begins the nickname of “Pop-Up” for Serena. As the quarter came to an end rookie Isaiah Latimer ground hurled the ball up through the Comfort Keeper defense, but the Ravens were not having any of it. They formed a wall in front of the goal, expertly blocking each swing that came in. But in a stroke of genius, and the spirit of World Cups of past, Isaiah channeled the great one, and expertly KICKED the sliotar into the back of the net, earning him the nickname “Pele” for his efforts. At the half, both teams were tied at nine.