Strikers even score with 2-1 win

The USA Strikers got even with the Portuguese Hot Sauce Saturday with a 2-1 victory in AYSO boys’ Under-10 Division play.

Earlier in the season, the Strikers lost to the Hot Sauce.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Strikers forward Drew Truxaw found an open Walker Thurston, who in turn sent a powerful shot into the net to give his squad a 1-0 lead.

A few minutes later, Hot Sauce defender Jordan Thomas came up with a steal, passed off to halfback Garrett Babbitt, who then sent a deep pass to Logan Steinle. From there, Steinle planted a left-footed shot into the net to even the score by the half.

In the second half, neither team was able to score, each turned away by the efforts of goalies Jack Truxaw (Strikers) and Truman Bazer (Hot Sauce).

The Strikers took the lead for good in the opening moments of the fourth quarter when Drew Truxaw scored off a double pass from Connor Venanzi and Gavin Kirkreit.

The defensive play of Strikers Thurston, Josh Reichert, Drexler Kim and goalie Zack Roesch, preserved the lead.

In other AYSO action:

Girls Under-14 Division

Rams 2, Energizers 1

The Rams of Region 117 scored a pair of first-half goals Saturday against the Energizers of Region 55 and made both stand in a 2-1 victory

The Rams never trailed, scoring a quick goal at the outset of the match when Sarah Green sent a shot into the net.

The Energizers moved into a 1-1 tie when Paulina scored on a breakaway, but a goal by Blake Wetzel on a rebound gave the Rams a 2-1 halftime lead.

Rams goalie Chelsea Ostavapour turned away a few other scoring opportunities for the Energizers in the first half.

Defense dominated the second-half of play. Both goalies, Whitney Palmer of the Energizers and the Rams’ Nicole Giambone, didn’t allow a goal.

Under-12 Division

HB Strikers 4, Splatt 4

Splatt scored the first three goals of the match, but the HB Strikers fought back to earn a tie.

Alexa Vellanoweth scored two goals, with Lauren Delgadillo and Sara Ioffrida each getting an assist for the Strikers.

Grace Gonzell scored for Splatt.

In club soccer action:

Under-11 Division

NHB Black 1, SoCal Blues 1

For the third time in three weeks, NHB Black played to a tie, this one coming against the SoCal Blues of San Juan Capistrano.

NHB Black overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit when Kayla Wigney netted a goal early in the second half to tie the score.

The tie, the fourth of the year for the locals, puts NHB at 2-1-4 on the season.