Senior Night

Last night we played against Heidelberg! There was a great energy in our stadium as we honored our one and only senior Jessica Cermelj! She is the lone survivor of her incoming class as she persevered through her 4 years! Not only has Jess made it four year on this team but she has also left her legacy behind. She puts her whole heart into everything she does and it really shows how much she cares about this team and her teammates! During the game against Heidelberg Jess gained a point as she had 1 assist and 2 shots on goal! She battled hard and contributed to our team win 5-1!

 

 

 

 As the game started Heidelberg took off on the offensive. Our girls struggled to adjust to the game at first, allowing a goal by heidelberg in a moment of weakness. Once they realized that we were down they huddled up and decided to change the way they were playing and to take control of the game. 4 minutes after the Heidelberg goal Jess Cermelj found the ball in the middle of the Field and played it through the defense to Becca Cartmill who ran on, took the keeper and placed the ball in the back of the net! After the first goal the Crusaders kept the momentum and really took it to Heidelberg. Our next goal came from Mary Bushee who won the ball in the back on defense, took her space and dribbled aggressively up the field. She found herself at the top of the box and ambitiously took a shot which landed in the far side of the net! Soon after our second goal a great defensive act kept the scoring going. Taylor Atkins and Shelby Johnson both pressured the ball up top and Shelby won the ball and took off towards goal. Shelby blasted the ball past the goalie leaving us in the lead 3-1 at the end of the first half!

In the second half we changed up our lineup and went into full attack mode. The girls came out strong and determined to keep the scoring going. 8 minutes into the half Amanda Kachaylo received the ball out wide and took on her defender towards goal. She beat the Heidelberg D and slotted the ball across the box to Mary Bushee who shot the ball and it landed in the back of the net! Again a few minutes later, Amanda Kachaylo took on a defender, beat her and then passed the ball on to Becca Cartmill who shot far post and hit the side netting! We ended the game winning 5-1!

Not only was the win a wonderful way to end senior night for Jess, but also a great way to pick up our attack and work great together as a team! Our next game is this Saturday against Baldwin Wallace! We will face off at Bernlohr Stadium at 11am! Come out and support us with your Purple Pride!!

10/25 vs. John Carroll

On Saturday we travelled to John Carroll for a tough game that left us all feeling disheartened.

As we step onto the field for the first half the team had a great energy about them and within minutes we were set up with a corner kick. Claire Quinn placed the ball at the corner and hit it perfectly near post to Maura Fortino who was ready at the near post! Maura flicked the ball with her head past the keeper and into the goal! The girls were ecstatic as they took the lead. The energy stayed consistant through the first half as we fought for possession and to increase our lead. At the half we were up 1-0.

As the second half began both teams were struggling to gain the upper hand. We gave up a corner kick and John Carroll took advantage of their opportunity. The ball was played into the box where both teams fought to win the ball. As the box flooded with people the ball was kicked past our keeper tying up the game at 1s. For the rest of the half we went on the offensive and had countless opportunities to finish the game. Unfortunately however we were unable to sink our chance. At the end of regular time the game was still tied 1-1 so we went into overtime.

Going into overtime the girls came out fierce and created opportunities that we again were unable to capitalize on. After the first ten minutes the girls came off the field to recoop and prepare for the second overtime. We fought hard and both teams were exhausted as we tried to gain the upper hand. We held out strong until the last minute when their team played a ball over our backs heads. They tracked fast but were unable to stop the JCU forward as she placed the ball past our keeper and into the net. The game was over and a wave of defeat swept our team. We had many opportunities to put the game away but were unsuccessful in our attempts.

After the game however our parents were there to cheer the girls up and feed them with a wonderful meal! We thank you so much for all the effort and time you put into making our players feel at home and giving them a much needed emotional boost after a tough loss.

We have two days of hard work ahead of us in prepartation for our senior night Wednesday against Heidelberg. Kick off is at 4pm. Please come and cheer on your Crusaders and our one and only senior Jessica Cermelj! GO CRUSADERS!

10/21 vs. Marietta

Yesterday we took the 2 hour drive out to Marietta to play in our 6th conference game. As soon as we got there the bad weather started to come down on us. The field was already muddy and slick and the consistent rain made it even more challenging. Despite the clear negatives of the weather and the beaten down field our Crusaders came out strong and determined to make a statement. The team worked well together and transitioned quickly creating a ton of scoring opportunities! In the first half alone we had 14 shots on goal resulting in 3 goals! The first was a cross from Amanda Kachaylo which was run down by Chloe Brown who placed it far post! Only four minutes later we scored again when Maura Fortino slotted the ball across the box where Amanda Kachaylo got on the end of it and finished! Then again 5 minutes later Becca Cartmill struck the ball towards goal, the goalie deflected it and Becca, who didn't give up on the shot, followed up and hit it into the goal! Her tenacity and efforts from the team left us up 3-0 at the half.

Going into the second half the girls were pumped from our success in the first half. They came out fierce and quickly began to attack creating more scoring opportunities. Five minutes into the second half Maura Fortino, once again, crossed the ball through the box to Amanda Kachaylo who placed it in the lower far corner! After the momentum of a quick goal the girls won the ball back. Claire Quinn took a shot from outside the box that hit the cross bar and bounced back into the box, Maura Fortino quickly saw the ball coming back out and sprinted to finish! 10 minutes later we gained a corner kick which was struck nicely by Claire Quinn. The ball was greeted by Mariah Richards at the near post who jumped up and headed it down and into the box! 9 minutes after that Monique Hanayik dribbled the ball down the field, took it to the end line and slotted it back towards Shelby Johnson who was making her way to goal. Shelby placed the ball one time past the keeper for our final goal of the game!

The Crusaders moved the ball quickly and fought hard for every 50/50 chance and we really used this game as an opportunity to get better and gain confidence in our attack. We had great efforts individually and as a group which is why we were able to create and finish so many opportunities! We are excited to face John Carroll this Saturday at 6pm at their field! Preparation and determination are key the next few days as we prepare for our next opportunity for greatness!

Busy Weekend

This past weekend the girls had fall break and along with that they were given a break from soccer as well. The pressures of school, soccer, social lives, and family were weighing heavily on our athletes and it was obvious they were ready for a day or two off and that's exactly what they got. On Friday, with classes cancelled, a group of players went the The Maize as bonding time and an opportunity to have some fun. The day was fantastic for hay rides, pumpkin patches, mazes, and campfires. It was a wonderful time and everyone truly enjoyed themselves!

 Saturday at Bernlohr Stadium we faced Ohio Northern with a kick off of 11am. The game started out smooth as we possessed the ball and moved it around purposefully. Unfortunately however, after a string of mistakes on our end Ohio Northern scored just 11 minutes into play. The rest of the half became a battle for possession and for control of the game.

In the second half our Crusaders came out fierce, took control and dominated the play. They kept the ball in our offensive half the rest of the game and had countless attempts at goal. We had 18 shots on goal but they all fell short of scoring. Even though we kept the ball, created chances, and fought for every opportunity to score we were unable to finish. The game ended in a loss 0-1. Even though the outcome was unfavorable, we were able to see points and areas that need to be addressed and everyday we can work to get better in those specific areas. We are preparing for our next match tomorrow against Marietta. Kick off is at 4pm at the Marietta Soccer Complex.

10/11 vs Otterbein

This past Saturday we went to Westerville to face our conference rival Otterbein. There was electric energy in the air as we took the field for our third conference match. In the first half both teams struggled to gain possession and it was difficult for us to transition into the offensive third. Our defense held strong however and the half ended scoreless.

Going into the second half it was clear that the game had turned to a physical battle as both teams eagerly attempted to create scoring opportunities. Our offense created a few scoring chances but came up short despite creative efforts from Becca Cartmill and Shelby Johnson. Our defense was solid and held off the Otterbein attack with Chloe Brown clearing a shot off the line and Kim Leitch saving everything that came her way. After 90 minutes of play the game was still scoreless so we went into 2 overtimes playing a total of 110 minutes. We ended in a tie 0-0 against our rivals leaving us 2-0-1 in the conference. Exceptional play by Kaitlyn Semelsberger in the back to keep things organized and she fought hard the entire 110 minutes.

Although we would have liked a win, it is always hard going on the road to play a rival and we fought hard through the long match. We have areas to work through and we will work hard the next couple days before we play against Wilmington on Wednesday at home at 4pm! See you there!

10/7 vs. Muskingum

Our second conference opponent was Muskingum and we faced them at their place last night at 7pm. The beginning of the half we came out strong, possessed the ball, passed and moved quickly giving us control of the game. Although we were in control we struggled to get solid scoring opportunities but in the 33 minute Maura Fortino got control of the ball and rocketed it towards goal. The ball hit off of a Muskingum defender and found its place in the side of the net. The half ended with the Crusaders winning 1-0.

The second half the team rallied together and decided to come out strong and within a minute of the half we scored. Mary Bushee made a run up the sideline from her defensive position, won the ball, beat a defender and struck the ball upper 90. Her efforts left us up 2-0 just minutes into the second half. Despite our efforts we were unsuccessful in getting any more goals. We managed the game, continued to attack, but ultimately could not advance. We won the game 2-0 making it our second conference win along with our fourth win in a row.

This Saturday we take on Otterbein in a rival game against our third conference opponent. We play away with a kick off at 1pm. We are excited for the opportunity of a winning streak of 5 games. Our preparation and focus are key this week as we plan for our next battle! Go Crusaders!

Red Card Cancer Game

On Saturday we had our Red Card Cancer game that raised money for the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center research and treatment program. Our opponent was Mt. Union and they joined us in the fight against cancer and helped us raise funds! We came together for a greater cause and raised over $1,400! We sold t-shirts and accepted donations for wristbands and both sets of fans were very generous in helping us reach our goals!

Each team had honorary captains who were either cancer survivors or cancer fighters and they were recognized for their courage in fighting such an intimidating and life altering sickness. They participated in the coin toss and were able to sit on the bench and cheer on their teams!

As we started the game both teams came out strong but soon we took possession of the ball and started to work the game around creating chances. Half way through the first half, at the 23rd minute, Amanda Kachaylo took her dribble towards the 18 box and hit a lofted shot that went over the keepers head! This effort left us up 1-0 at the end of the first half!

At the start of the second half, Capital took charge and aggressively went on the offensive creating a scoring opportunity only 57 seconds later! Becca Cartmill had the ball outside the 18 and passed it into the box to Maura Fortino who finished low in the corner! 14 minutes later Amanda Kachaylo once again took the ball towards the goal and played the ball past the keeper! The game ended with the Crusaders ahead 3-0 in our first conference game of the year!

This game was a great confidence booster and really showed the potential of our team! We fought hard, played smart, and there was an immense amount of effort from everyone who stepped on the field! Today we take on Muskingum at their place at 7pm! Wish us luck as we take on our second conference opponent of the year!

9/30/14 vs. Ohio Wesleyan

Last night our girls went to Ohio Wesleyan in their last game before conference play. As we started the game we struggled to play to our strengths and had succumb to pressure from the opponent leaving ourselves in a frantic state. Our efforts were evident at an individual level but not quite there as a team. Ending the first half the score was tied at zeros and a frustration took over the team.

Entering the second half we began to connect the dots but in a moment of weakness Ohio Wesleyan scored the first goal in the 62nd minute. After stopping further attempts from the opponent the Crusaders kicked it into gear with a drive by Becca Cartmill who shot to the far post. As it looked like it was going just wide of the goal, Monique Hanayik sprinted to the post, got a foot on the ball, and placed it in the back of the net. This great exertion of effort by both girls left the game tied at 1-1 with only 3 minutes left in regular play. The last 3 minutes we took off in the offensive to win the game but our chances fell short pushing us into overtime.

Before the first overtime the girls came together and decided that they were going to come out strong and win the game, which they did! Only 3 minutes into over time, and after countless shots on goal, the ball fell into the feet of Maura Fortino who shot it past the keeper winning the game. This was Maura's first goal of the season and well deserved after she gave a tremendous effort for the full game and left everything on the field. Honorable mentions from the game were also Mary Bushee who worked extremely hard and never gave up, along with Chloe Brown who stayed strong in the back and fought hard throughout the game.

This Saturday we take on our first conference opponent Mt. Union at home for our Red Card Cancer game.We will be selling t-shirts, wristbands and more to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. We hope you will join us and help us raise money for a great cause along with cheering on your Crusaders. Kick off is at 4pm!