Rec soccer titles decided for grades 5-6

Grades 5 and 6 girls soccer
    Regulation and two overtime periods weren’t enough to settle the thrilling semifinal game between No. 2 Mutiny and No. 3 Rapids in the grade 5-6 girls playoffs. The Rapids jumped out to the early lead when Michaela Dumais poked in a loose ball in front of the goal minutes into the game.  The Rapids kept the pressure on Mutiny goalie Michelle Cawley, but Cawley made some spectacular saves to keep the game close. Cawley was helped by the defensive efforts of Mandy Graham, Cheyenne Judkins, and Shaye McHatten. Dumais, Angela Hallowell, and Kalie Ward of the Rapids all did a fantastic job on offense.
    The Rapids took a narrow 1-0 lead into the halftime break. The Mutiny came out more offensive in the second half. Ashley Trask and Katelyn Ford worked the ball down the field, trying to get the equalizer. Unfortunately they ran into the defensive force of Olivia Goulet, Regan Nelson, and keeper Jessica Cameron. The trio foiled each opportunity that arose for the Mutiny. The ball stayed in the middle third of the field for a majority of the half as neither team could find an advantage. The Mutiny got their break after a hand ball in the penalty area resulted in a penalty kick. Olivia Hudson stepped up to the line and coolly placed the ball just out of Cameron’s reach to knot the game at 1-1.
    The two sides headed to penalty kicks to decide who would advance to the championships. The Rapids got goals from their first three shooters and Cameron made three big stops to propel them into the title game.
    The other semifinal pitted the top-seeded Crew against No. 4 Clash. The early stages of the game mimicked the previous game, as neither team could work the ball into the opponent’s territory. Miranda Jandreau and Cameo Madore of the Clash and Crew respectively did a fantastic job between the pipes for their team, as both goalies made miraculous saves to keep the game scoreless at intermission. The Crew were able to break through in the opening minute of the second half. Taylor Williams picked off a clearing pass, leading to a one on one situation with the goalie. She blasted a shot into the upper corner of the goal.
    Play was fast and furious from that point on, as both teams had bend but not break defensive stands. The game ended with the Crew winning, 1-0.
    The stage was set for an exciting championship game, as the Rapids and Crew had tied once and had one goal games the other two meetings. As expected, the first half was a back and forth affair with neither side able to gain an advantage. Cameo Madore of the Crew and Jessica Cameron of the Rapids were outstanding in goal for their respective sides, and they were aided by some great play by their marking backs. Taylor Williams and Mackenzie Pelkey of the Crew and Olivia Goulet and Regan Nelson of the Rapids cleared all opponents’ chances in the first half, bringing a score of 0-0 into halftime.
    The Rapids were able to break through minutes into the second half. A failed clearing pass landed on the waiting foot of Amy Trask, and Trask drilled a hard shot through the crowded penalty area into the goal. The Crew marched right back down the field and tied it up, as Williams was able to convert on a penalty kick. Constant Crew pressure resulted in another penalty kick, and once again Williams found the back of the net, this time to put the Crew on top 2-1. The Crew withstood the late Rapids’ rally to hold on to the 2-1 victory.
Grades 5 and 6 boys soccer
    The Sting and Express met up in the first semifinal game last Tuesday afternoon. The Sting had the early advantage thanks to some aggressive play from Kyle Rider and Zach Rice. The two kept the ball in their offensive third a majority of the first half, giving Express goalie John Freeman quite the workout. Freeman was up to the task, turning away multiple shots. Rider was finally able to break through just before the half as Freeman couldn’t handle his blistering shot.
    Liam Daniels and Jason Bartley got the Express back on the offensive to start the second half, but they couldn’t slip the ball past Sting keeper Byron Winslow. Rider tallied another goal off a Rice assist to put the Sting up 2-0, which is how the game ended.
    Noah Rossignol’s free kick midway through the second half was all the Strikers would need as they upset the top ranked Kicks, 1-0. The Strikers pounded the ball in on the Kicks’ end, and a clearing pass resulted in a hand ball just outside the penalty area. Rossignol sent a hard shot through the area that somehow eluded all defenders on its way to the goal. Cooper Madore, Caleb Nadeau, and Cody Kennedy of the Kicks couldn’t get the ball past the Strikers’ David Cyr at the end, as Cyr made some spectacular saves in the goal. Strikers defenders Brenden Goulet and Nick Powers helped preserve the 1-0 win.
    The championship game was as thrilling as the semifinal matchups. The Strikers looked to break through first, as the front line of Bryce Smith and Kyle Nadeau worked the ball up the field behind the Sting defense. Sting keeper Byron Winslow had the game of his life, jumping for saves all night long. The Strikers were awarded a penalty kick after a hand ball in the area, but the shot sailed just wide. The Sting countered as Noah Kinney and Kyle Rider tested keeper David Cyr and markers Joseph Boone and Brenden Goulet. The trio was up to the task, and the two sides headed to the half scoreless.
    The Sting picked up the offensive pressure in the second half. A hand ball in the penalty box resulted in a penalty shot for the Sting. Rider unleashed a blast, but Cyr was able to get in front of the ball and pounce on the rebound. Rider was able to get his redemption later in the half as a foul in front of the goal gave him a second shot. This one was smoked into the back of the net to give the Sting the 1-0 lead. The Sting was able to add an insurance goal late in the game as Nicolas Shields scored off a rebound. Zach Rice had sent in a long shot that rattled the top cross bar. The ball came back to Shields’ feet, and he poked the ball just out of Cyr’s reach. The Sting’s defense tightened up after that to hold on for the 2-0 victory.