By Christopher Shaban
Eagle Times Correspondent
CLAREMONT — The Cardinals dominated the visitors from Berlin and coasted to an easy 5-0 win in the season opener for both clubs on Friday night.
Stevens was the aggressor all night as Angelina LcClair’s tally got things going for Tom Belair’s team. The offensive possession heavily favored Stevens for most of the game and if it wasn’t for Chloe Dagasse’s acrobatic goal keeping, the lead would have grown much larger early.
Tanner Brown picked up a loose ball and found the back of the net to put the Cardinals up 2-0 for all the scoring at the break. “We have a new system and lots of new players this year and our second half was better tonight,” said Belair.
The Cardinals broke things open with two second-half goals from Sydney Miller and another tally from Brown for the 5-0 final as Stevens put lots of pressure on the Berlin defensive end for most of the second half. Shots were flying toward Dagasse with pace with the hardest blast of the nigh coming off the foot of Jenna Bonneau from her defender position that hugged the ground that Dagasse made a diving save on.
The Cardinal defense wasn’t tested all that much but when Berlin had a breakaway, Alexis Aiken’s speed was on display as she just ran down the attacker and muscled her off the ball for the Stevens’s keeper, Fionah Carbee to handle with ease. Carbee’s only save of the game came with 13 minutes remaining and her sprawling dive cemented the shutout. “We lost 7 starters from last year and but I think after the early game jitters, we settled in nicely and had much better ball movement over the final 40 minutes,” added Belair.
Stella Lavertue had 2 assists tonight while Miller had one of her own for Stevens.
Stevens won the JV contest in a big way prior to the Varsity game Friday night.
Stevens will welcome the always-tough Kearsage Cougars on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. contest.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.