U-12 Chatham Strikers Tie Oakridge

The U-12 Strikers were at home on Tuesday night, taking on the undefeated Oakridge Hurricanes. Chatham was hoping to keep building on their early season success and remain in the running for top spot in the division. The game was a closely fought match with the Chatham Strikers U12 team tying the Oakridge Hurricanes.

Oakridge were an unfamiliar opponent to the Strikers, so Chatham made sure they came flying out of the gates, and successfully outworked and outplayed the Hurricanes for most of the 1st half. Unfortunately the Strikers were not able to take advantage of 3 or 4 good scoring attempts and they would have to settle for a 0 – 0 halftime score.

Hoping to explode in the 2nd half by converting some of their scoring chances, you would think Chatham would come out motivated and focused. Instead they looked flat footed and tired. Chatham would be backed in their own end for part of the 2nd half. Oakridge finally took advantage of Chatham’s lack of effort at the 54 minute mark of the game for a 1 – 0 lead. The goal against seemed to wake up Chatham and after being out-worked up to that point, Chatham picked up the pace and mounted a couple of good attacks. Oakridge felt the pressure and a misplaced goal kick came right to Logan Kucera who chested the ball down, and went in on goal. She fired a high shot over the head of the Hurricane goalie to tie the game at 1 – 1.

Chatham was fired up by the momentum swing and looked to be pushing forward for the goal ahead goal. However , a bad bit of luck from a bad bounce and unintentional hand ball, resulted in a controversial penalty shot being awarded to Oakridge. Brooke MacKinnon stood her ground in the Chatham net and made a big save to keep the game knotted at 1 apiece. The game would end in a draw, with Kaylee Boulley goalkeeping a clean 1st half and Brooke MacKinnon conceding only the 1 goal in the 2nd half despite alot of pressure and numerous shots from Oakridge.