Congratulations to the Braxton U12 Pink Warriors girl’s soccer team for its championship win in the Nicholas County Youth Soccer Lorenzen Cup this past weekend. Eight teams from Randolph, Marion, Barbour, Upshur, Nicholas and Braxton counties competed in the tournament held at Veterans Memorial Park in Summersville. The Pink Warriors won their pool to earn a spot in the championship game against Seneca Fletcher from Randolph County. It was a nail-biter. The defensive effort was exceptional from both teams. At the end of regulation, the game was tied at zero. Following an intense five-minute overtime period, the score remained tied at zero. Deciding the game was a five-person penalty kick shootout. Each team selects five players to shoot at the goal, defended by the opposing team’s goalie. The teams alternate turns, one shot at a time. The team with the most goals wins. The players selected to shoot for the Pink Warriors were Sparrow Potasnik-Reiter, Makenna Robinson, Kaylee Jo Casto, Cassidy Coyer and Bella Rollyson. Ariel Dobbins defended the Pink Warriors’ goal. At the end of the tiebreaker, without the Warriors having to take their final kick, the team won 3-1. The girls played four games throughout the day. Makenna Robinson won the most valuable player award in two games. Ariel Dobbins won MVP in the other two, including the championship.
While this victory was certainly exciting, it came as no surprise to Pink Warriors’ fans. The team has had a very successful season. In all-girls and co-ed competition, it has won six games, tied two, and lost only one game. Indeed, the team has outscored opponents by a margin of 47 to 10.While most of the team members are from Braxton County, Clay County girls Ariel Dobbins and Sparrow Potasnik-Reiter are an integral part of the team’s success. Dobbins is a hard-nosed goalie who often sacrifices her body for the sake of saving a goal and punts the ball the length of the field. Potasnik-Reiter is one of the team’s leading offensive strikers. She has exceptional ball handling skills and has scored a high percentage of the team’s goals this season. Braxton teammates are offensive strikers Makenna Robinson, Kaylee Jo Casto and Zoey McQuain. Midfielders, who provide the link between the offensive attack and the defense, are Audrey Duckworth, Bailey McCallister and Reece Rollyson. Defenders, whose primary job it is to stop the other team from scoring, are Cassidy Coyer and Bella Rollyson. And utility players, whose specialty is being able to capably play multiple positions on the field, are Claire Duckworth and Madison Hawkins. The team is coached by Lindsey and Steve Casto.
Best of luck to the Pink Warriors as they finish out the season, set to wrap up on May 18th at the Braxton County Soccer Club complex.