In a road game last weekend, the U14 Riptide girls took on Victoria’s top team, the Surge, against whom they tied in their meeting.
The Riptide held most of the possession for the first 20 minutes – a start the coaches were looking for. Battles were won and lost throughout the pitch with both teams getting stuck in. Scoring chances were minimal at both ends the early stages. At minute 28, with the Surge pressing the back line, a shot inside the 18-yard box found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead at half.
The fans and cow bell were in full force as the second half began. It paid off early as the Riptide was awarded a corner kick at minute 45. As the ball came into the Surge’s 18-yard box, the fight for the ball was on. Shots from several Riptide players were thwarted until the ball squeaked out to striker Kailena Krutzmann, who made no mistake and buried the ball to tie the game.
“The fans and bell rang like 1999,” a news release states.
The game and battles continued throughout the half. Keeper Hanna Jennings made timely long balls to release the Surge’s pressure, which paid off. Positional changes were made to push for a win against a team Riptide has yet to beat. Defensive midfielder Meaghan Linegar had her shot bounce off the cross bar at minute 55, which seemed to energize the Riptide.
At minute 68 of a 70-minute game, the chance came. The ball made its way into the Surge’s six-yard box that the keeper couldn’t control. Striker Kailena found herself in the right place at the right time and bombarded their keeper repeatedly until she was rewarded with her second goal of the game and third in two games.
“The eruption from the fans and bell was deafening.”
The game ended 2-1.
Next week, the Riptide has a home game at Vanier turf.