Pleasanton RAGE vs. Academica FC – June 21, 2023

By: Reese Foster

June 29th 2023

Pleasanton RAGE played an extremely exciting game last Wednesday against Academia FC. After battling for the lead for most of the game, RAGE was able to score 4 goals against Academia, winning the game 4-2. 

Academia FC started off strong with several dangerous attacking chances. In the 3rd minute, Academica forward Trinidad Quiroz (#15) received the ball in the middle with two defenders on her back. She used an outside cut to split the defenders, carried the ball towards the RAGE box and took a low shot that went far wide. However in the 8th minute, Academia found success when the ball was played to forward Emma Albino (#5) who dished a through ball to Quiroz (#15) who was already running in behind RAGE defenders. Quiroz found herself in a 1v1 against the RAGE keeper and shot the ball low. The shot hit RAGE keeper Sadie Brown (#0) but still found its way to the back of the net. 

Pleasanton RAGE retaliated quickly when in the 11th minute when midfielder Haley Hong (#13) played a ball into the box to her teammate Penny Murphy (#10) in the box. Murphy then dribbled past a center defender towards the outside post and shot low, just sneaking the ball past the Academia keeper. Two minutes later, Academia managed to gain the lead again after they received a free kick in the midfield. Albino (#5) received the ball and passed to her teammate Alexi Ochoa (#4). Ochoa took a shot that deflected off of a RAGE defender and went back to Albino (#5). Albino then took a touch that beat two of her defenders and shot the ball into the top net, making the score 2-1. 

Only 5 minutes later, RAGE was able to tie the game once again in their last serious attacking chance of the half. Gabriella Funk (#17) received the ball 10 yards out from the box, dribbled, and beat her defender with a left outside cut. She then took a shot from just outside the box that found the top right corner of the goal. The first half ended with a 2-2 score. 

Pleasanton RAGE started off the second half with very high intensity. Only one minute in, Kennedy Mayo (#11) received the ball at the top of the box and played a quick pass to her teammate Funk (#17). Funk cut the ball around her defender and took a shot that flew over the top of the goal. Three minutes later, RAGE got close to the goal yet again when they gained a free kick just outside the right side of the box. The ball was nicely floated and Mayo (#11) almost got a head on it but ran into the Academia keeper who caught the ball first. 

Academia FC responded in the 59th minute when  Quiroz (#15) received a pass on the sideline and carried the ball towards the endline. Quiroz then cut into the middle, and took a powerful shot that went over the crossbar. Just 5 minutes after however, RAGE found the back of the net once again. Marivic Lek-Miro (#5) held the ball on the sideline and then played a ball over two Academia defenders to her teammate Mayo (#11). Mayo took a touch to separate from her defender and shot the ball right into the top left corner. RAGE continued their momentum when around 10 minutes later, they gained a corner that led to another goal. The corner was floated into the box and the ball bobbled around until being kicked outside of the box to Lek-Miro (#5) who took a quick touch and perfectly placed the ball into the top left corner of the goal. 

Both teams fought hard and played great soccer, however RAGE’s persistent efforts gained them an impressive 4-2 win against Academia FC.