OXFORD, Ohio – Kings Hammer Academy wasted no time in showing why its one of the top soccer clubs in the country, with both its U17s and U18s posting shut-outs in the first day of the 2014 adidas Blue Chip Showcase.

The Blue Chip tournament, which runs through Sunday, welcomed club teams from ten states, including Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, among others. As Friday’s action opened to clear and sunny skies, host club Kings Hammer Academy took advantage of the warm weather, stealing the show in both U17 and U18 play.

MORE COVERAGE: Top 8 Players from Day 1

 

KHA 2-0 SWISA (U18)

Currently ranking ninth in the region among soccer clubs, its no surprise KHA rallied to a shut out in its first game of the tournament, with both its goals coming from Savannah Carmosino, a 2014 Wright State commit.

SWISA kept KHA at bay throughout most of the first half, with several scoring opportunities created by midfielder Samantha Smith. Smith had SWISA’s best scoring chance of the game on a corner kick half way through the first half, getting her head on the ball and directing it towards the left corner of the net. KHA goalkeeper Maddie Drexelius managed to block the shot and gain control of the ball off a rebound, keeping the game scoreless.

After nearly an entire half of no scoring, KHA finally got on the board with an easy goal from Carmosino. After receiving a long pass from midfielder Addie Englehart, also a 2014 Wright State commit, Carmosino managed to get behind SWISA’s defense and tap the ball into the back of the net, giving KHA a 1-0 advantage over SWISA going into half time.

Carmosino struck again within the first 15 minutes of the second half, this time battling several SWISA defenders at the top of the box. Cutting quickly to the right, Carmosino blasted the ball past SWISA goalkeeper Kate Webster with just one touch, garnering a second goal and clinching the shut out for her team.

“We like to keep the ball, so I think that was key in what we were trying to do,” KHA U18 head coach Tiffany Roberts said. “They (SWISA) didn’t really pressure us, so we were able to make good decisions on the ball and kind of give and go.”

All 17 KHA U18 players have been recruited to play soccer at the collegiate level beginning in the Fall.

 

KHA 3-0 FWUFC (U17)

Similar to its U18 counterpart, KHA took the lead against FWUFC within the first 45 minutes of play. Midfielder Bailey Feist garnered her first goal of the weekend’s showcase with a hard shot at FWUFC keeper Alexandra Seabeck. Seabeck managed to block the shot, but was unable to hold onto the ball as it slipped out of her grasp and rolled to the back of the net.

KHA scored again during the second half, this time from forward Patrice Dipasquale off an assist from Feist. Feist fired a pass from the center of the field up to Dipasquale who rushed behind the defense and found herself in a breakaway against Seabeck. The KHA forward chipped her shot over the keeper’s head into the goal, putting KHA up 2-0.

KHA buried the win with one final goal late in the second half, off a quick shot from forward Kelly Polacek. Midfielder Lauren Nemeroff started the play by sprinting down to the left corner of the field and dancing around an FWUFC defender. Her attempted shot on goal was deflected to the center of the box, which was then picked up by Polacek who completed the play and put the ball in the net with a low-rolling shot.

 

LFC 3-0 MTA (U15)

LFC also earned a shutout of its own during Friday’s tournament action, posting all three of its goals in the second half. After a tough and scoreless first half, LFC found the back of the net on a breakaway, managing to beat MTA keeper Taylor Lock. LFC then earned its second goal of the day seven minutes later, with another low shot to the corner of the net. LFC’s third and final goal late in the second half clinched the shut out during the first day of the Blue Chip Showcase.