Clayton Girls Soccer Team Ends Regular Season With 1-0 Win

The finished off its regular season on a high note with a 1-0 victory over the Whitfield Warriors at Whitfield on Thursday.

Freshman midfielder Abby Rivard scored Clayton’s goal relatively late in the game with 14:14 left to play. Rivard took a pass from forward Meg Sutter. She then used her right foot to kick the ball into east side of the goal.

Rivard has five goals this season.

“It’s always exciting to score,” Rivard said. “It pumps you up as well as the entire team.”  

Clayton coach Paul Hoelscher said his team controlled the ball throughout the game through quality passing. He also credited the Warriors’ swarming defense for limiting Clayton’s scoring opportunities.

“Whitfield is a very well-coached team,” Hoelscher said. “They’re very disciplined, and they do a nice job behind the ball. I talked with the girls about patience and perseverance and getting chances. We got some chances, and eventually we hit.”

The Warriors had just two shots on goal in the whole contest. Olivia Volarich fired off two shots shortly after Rivard’s goal. A shot with 12:55 left to play hit the west side of the goal, and Clayton goalkeeper Bree Northern caught a shot with 10:39 left to play.

Northern earned her seventh shutout of the season against Whitfield.

Whitfield coach Bill Daues was unavailable for comment.  

Clayton finishes regular season play with an 11-6 record. The Greyhounds start postseason play in the Class 2, District 4 Tournament at 3 p.m. Saturday at Villa Duchesne High School.