Sports

Clarion Soccer Ends Season With 3-1 Loss

Even in a tough 3-1 loss against Kutztown University in the final game of the season, senior Maria Baldelli stole the spotlight, scoring her first career goal
in the 88th minute of the match.

“It felt really good,” said Baldelli.

“Since I didn’t play a lot during the season, it was a big accomplishment.”

Baldelli’s goal was contributed by some of the other seniors as well off a corner kick, which was fitting, since it was senior day as well.

The Golden Eagles said goodbye to their five seniors in a ceremony before the game; Stephanie Harrison, Baldelli, Jordan Daloisio, Kylie Keeny and Emily
Heasley.

“We’re all a big family,” Baldelli said. “It was a great learning experience for all the seniors having everyone look up to us.”

Even though he wasn’t pleased with the end results, head coach Rob Eaton was delighted to end the season with Baldelli’s goal.

“It meant a lot to her,” Coach Eaton said, “In my 15 years of coaching, this was the nicest, sweetest thing for a senior to end her career.”

Coach Eaton also shared his gratitude for this group of seniors honored before the game.

“This group did a fine job. That accommodated in the last few minutes of the game, with all the seniors contributing to the goal.”

The teamwork of the Golden Eagles’ seniors on Baldelli’s goal took the attention away from the rest of the match dominated by Kutztown. Maria Borland scored a
hat trick for the Golden Bears, en route to the 3-1 victory.

Clarion finishes the season at 4-11-2, and 2-10-2 in the PSAC.

With the season in the books, the team will look toward preparing for next season, with the main priority of fixing their biggest issue of the season, scoring
goals.

“My recruiting priorities have changed,” Coach Eaton said. “We provided more playing time to freshmen than anyone in the PSAC this year.”

Some of the notable seniors for next season include Crystal Miller, who had 10 shots on goal in 618 minutes played, and Lauren Barbour, who had eight shots on
goal in 632 minutes played.

The girls will once again be a young team in the PSAC with four juniors returning, and 11 sophomores along with any incoming freshmen.

It will be another young team, but at least everyone has another year under their belts, and experiences to remember.

Coming off this losing season, the team will look to regroup in the offseason to try to get better, and will try to solve their goal scoring issues, but at
least they’ll have momentum going into the offseason with the late goal by Baldelli, and certainly a nice ending for her career as a Golden Eagle.