The Riverhounds Development Academy’s 2007 Boys might be new to the Boys ECNL, but through their first month, they certainly look like they belong.
Both the 07 and 06 Boys swept their Michigan road trip last weekend, which placed both sides in early pole position in the ECNL’s Midwest Conference standings as September came to a close.
The 07s put up a pair of commanding wins, topping the Michigan Wolves on Saturday, 6-1, before shutting out Vardar SC on Sunday, 5-0. Those results have the team topping the league table at 3-0 on the young season.
The Wolves actually led early in the opening game of the weekend, but soon the RDA took control. Nathan Katari was outstanding on the wing, scoring twice and threatening throughout the match. J.J. Vozar also had two goals, and Aidan Thomas and Dante Sartori also scored.
The scoring remained balanced in the second win of the weekend, as Garrett Chandler, Nicolas Squeglia, Katari, Brayden Davin and Finn Kichi all scored in front of Sam Wessel‘s clean sheet.
Like their traveling partners, the 06 Boys are 3-0 on the young season, but they were pressed in their opener by the Michigan Wolves. Nick Cherry produced a number of saves for the Hounds to keep them in the match, and goals by Liam Park and Nick Allan gave the club a 2-1 win. Against Vardar SC the next day, things were slightly easier in a 5-1 victory led by Danny Stevens‘ two goals from his midfield position.
One of the weekend’s other big winners were the 06 East Girls, who pulled off a pair of wins in Great Lakes Alliance matches on the road in Batavia, N.Y.
Trailing early in the match, the 06 East Girls rallied for a 3-2 win over Cuyahoga Valley on Saturday. The next day, the team continued to show their growing confidence and better grasp on their system of play in a 6-2 win over Columbus United.
Also having a good weekend were the 08 East Girls and 09 East Boys, both of whom went 2-1 on the weekend, while the 09 East Girls came home with a pair of draws from their two matches in Western New York.
For more results and details about the RDA’s matches, visit the Live Results page.
Sunday, Sept. 29
In Boys ECNL matches in Livonia, Mich.:
• Another 07 Boys match, another resounding win by a 5-0 score against an always-tough Vardar SC side. Sam Wessel had the clean sheet and the Hounds were ahead after just 30 seconds in the match. Garrett Chandler, Nicolas Squeglia, Nathan Katari, Brayden Davin and Finn Kichi all scored for the Hounds, who were most dangerous off set pieces.
• The 06 Boys had just a one-goal lead at halftime but pulled away after the break for a 5-1 win over Vardar SC. J.J. Simms scored an excellent goal, and Nick Allan had the Hounds up 2-0 before a sloppy moment led to conceding a goal before half. Danny Stevens scored twice with good runs out of the midfield, and Zach Nash added a headed goal to complete the scoring.
In Great Lakes Alliance matches in Batavia, N.Y.:
• The 08 East Girls showed resilience after losing their first match 5-0 to Ohio’s Barça Academy, and they ended the weekend with a 6-2 victory over the Western New York Flash.
• The 06 East Girls continued to get stronger and extended their run of good form with a second win on the weekend, a comfortable 6-2 win over Columbus United.
• A slow start did in the 07 East Girls, but the team began to show more identity and cohesiveness in a 3-0 loss to Club Ohio.
• It was a tough day for some of the boys sides, as none of the four in action (06-09 East Boys) were able to get a result against good competition. The 09s played the closest match of the group, but they were unable to finish their chances while Rochester Futbol did, leading to a 4-1 defeat. Matt Kolencik netted the Hounds’ goal.
Saturday, Sept. 28
In Boys ECNL matches in Livonia, Mich.:
• The 07 Boys hit the road in style, as they took over after conceding an early goal for a 6-1 win over the Michigan Wolves. Nathan Katari was a standout on the win, scoring twice and presenting a constant threat to the opposition. J.J. Vozar also scored twice, and Aidan Thomas and Dante Sartori also netted goals as the Hounds played an excellent game and notched a statement win.
• Liam Park scored, and Nick Allen netted a stunner for the winning goal, and the 06 Boys were 2-1 winners over the Michigan Wolves. Goalkeeper Nick Cherry recorded a number of key saves to preserve the narrow win for the RDA.
In Great Lakes Alliance matches in Batavia, N.Y.
• The 09 East Boys managed to pull out a 3-2 win after trailing and not playing their best against CUSA. Noah Holland made some big saves to keep his team in the game, and goals by Matthew Kolencik, Liam Smith and Noah Jurcevich earned the result. In their second outing of the day, a better all-around performance secured a more comfortable 5-1 win over Cleveland FC, as Tyke Snider, Zander Gregg, Zach Fisher, Chase Hall and Jurcevic all scored.
• Goals were hard to come by in the 09 East Girls’ games. Sarah Tinkey played a strong match to earn the shutout in a 0-0 draw against CUSA, and Camryn McClean scored shortly after halftime for the Hounds in a rain-soaked 1-1 draw against Club Ohio.
• Adrianna Walker, Jiana Patterson and Annalyse Bauer controlled the middle of the park in a 4-0 win controlled by the 08 East Girlsduring the heavy rain. Reagan McCormick scored twice, and Addison Bandamer and Mackenzie Kubistek also had goals.
• The 08 East Boys turned up the pressure in the second half after falling behind by two goals, but ended up falling 2-1 to Cuyahoga Valley despite multiple chances to tie. Perrysburg tripped the boys up in their second match, a 6-3 defeat.
• Coming off a poor performance a week ago, the 07 East Boys shook things up with a new formation and a more resolute effort to knock off the Cleveland Force in convincing fashion, 4-0.
• The 07 East Girls battled evenly with Sporting Columbus, and the outcome was a 2-2 draw.
