They would make swift work at dusting off the cobwebs in their first game as a competitive team at the Tom Tipton cage Saturday, August 7th. Like many legendary local teams before them, the 2007 Soo City United Girls proved that the Steel City is a fierce competitor on the pitch in Northern Ontario.
Hosting the Greater Sudbury Impact Club on a humid August afternoon, SC United would be too much in an 8-0 win during the exhibition contest. Sudbury’s Impact and the 2007 and 2008 SC United teams began exhibition play two weeks ago and will continue through the month of August with consecutive home and home games.
Keira Berlingieri would open up scoring for the home squad by getting her foot on the ball in a tumultuous scrum in front of Sudbury’s keeper. Shortly after, Lauren Moran’s booming cross found an open Sophia Fata who would bury her first of many just before the break.
Abigail Jaremko, midfielder transplanted to striker, targeted the top left corner of the back of the net ten minutes into the second frame following mounting pressure from the Soo team.
Minutes later, Fata would fire a strike from outside of the 18 yard box.
Midway through the second half, Bryce Gagnon would find the score sheet twice by feeding Fata a pass – for her third of the game – and later finding the back of the net herself with a blistering strike through the keeper’s legs.
Jaremko would strike again, receiving a well placed through ball by midfielder Kyla Viotto.
The young Fata would find the back of the net with her fourth late in the game.
A stingy SC United defense would not allow any shots on their up and coming netminder Sophie Lamour who would post her first shutout as a member of SC United.
Coach Joe Valente told Saultsports that “I am proud of our girls for the hard work and dedication they have put in during the past 18 months not being able to play in a single tournament and for keeping their hearts in this beautiful game.”
“I call them my soccer family and they truly are family to me,” added Valente.
The 2007 Girls return to the pitch in Sudbury for Saturday, August 14 (3:00 p.m) and Sunday (11:00 a.m) games against the Impact.
Roster – Ava Barone, Keira Berlingieri, Mattea Bruni, Abby Carlucci, Vanessa Carota, Amy Clement, Sophia Fata, Bryce Gagnon, Abigail Jaremko, Kloe Kurylo, Sophie Lamour, Ayla Mazzuca, Vivianna Merlino, Loren Moran, Gianna Spironello, Tru Toms, Addisyn Tremblay, Lola Valente, and Kyla Viotto.
Check out Saultsports photographer Bob Davies Sudbury Impact vs Soo City United photo gallery.
Source: Adriano Carota/Photo: Bob Davies
