RECAP: NORTHEASTERN WEEK 6

Written By:  Ryan Wood

Naturally, when facing the fifth-ranked team in the nation, opposing teams want to disrupt that distinction and upset a perfect season. And, as a top team since the start of the summer, Clarkstown Soccer Club has certainly met its share of fierce competition. But that was put to the ultimate test (and then some) this past weekend.

“Most of our wins have come from ‘playing beautiful football’, but this win was a ‘gritty’ win, which is great,” Danny Samimi, Clarkstown Soccer Club head coach, said following Clarkstown’s 1-0 win on the road against upstart Merrimack Valley Hawks FC.

After hitting traffic during its several-hours bus ride to southern New Hampshire, which led to the team arriving late and having little time to prep, not to mention that it was missing several players, Clarkstown Soccer Club took the field, put in 90 minutes of diligent work, and came away with the win to catapult the team to 5-0-0 on the year.

“I am so proud of the girls for the grit they played with,” Samimi said. “At the end of the day we got the win & did not concede a goal, so we are happy with that.”

Samimi praised Merrimack Valley Hawks FC (1-0-4) in what turned out to be Clarkstown’s narrowest of margins this season.

“MV Hawks have two really good forwards and a very technical outside back that all present challenges,” Samimi said. “I also think their goalkeeper was outstanding. She saved 5 or 6 for sure goals.”

Clarkstown kept its winning streak intact courtesy of a goal from Kelly Brady (Ole Miss) off an assist from Lillian Moncion (Columbia). Additionally, Samimi praised the efforts of goalkeepers Kayla Bower (St. John’s) & Cassie Coster (Monmouth) and the back line of Ashley Moon (Pitt), Cali Collins (Delaware), Reilly Traynor (Bucknell), and Maddy DeCola (USC Upstate) for preserving the team’s third shutout of the season.

In other action around the Northeastern Conference, the Rhode Island Rogues improved to 4-1-0 with a commanding home victory over Force FC New York. Hannah McNutly (Providence) continued her torrid pace, registering a hat trick in the 5-0 win. Danae Harper (Old Dominion) and Brooke Jenkins (Vermont) added one goal apiece, while Jaydah Bedoya (West Virginia), Ashton Armstrong (Gordon), Paige Forster (Anglia Ruskin University), and Kaiya Boyd (UNC Asheville) each added one assist.

This weekend, the Rogues travel north to face Merrimack Valley Hawks FC at Joanne Merrill Field on the Rivier University campus (June 22, 3 p.m. ET). In other action ahead, Clarkstown Soccer Club looks to keep its perfect season intact as it hits the road Friday night to face New York Shockers (June 21, 6 p.m. ET). And, on Sunday, June 23, Force FC New York plays host to New York Shockers (5 p.m. ET).