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‘Alyssa Klotz Show’ a huge hit for Cowichan United

Four-goal effort propels United past Peninsula
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ALYSSA KLOTZ

Alyssa Klotz exploded for four goals, including a second-half hat trick, as Cowichan United thumped Peninsula FC 6-0 at Blue Heron Park last Friday.

Klotz opened the scoring less than a minute into the Div. 2 women’s soccer game, then picked up her intensity in the second half with three more goals, including two off deflections.

“It would be easy to say that Alyssa had a lot of luck tonight, that the ball seemed to bounce her way all night,” Cowichan head coach Adam Paulson said. “That would be an unfair assessment though, as it was her hard work that put her into the positions to capitalize on these breaks. She never stopped working, and it paid off. She was unselfish as well, making a lot of great passes that gave her teammates opportunities as well. It was a really great performance, and she was full value for the four goals she scored.”

Just seconds after the game began, Madison Jack sent a pass down the wing to Klotz, who beat her check and sent a ball back across the goalie, off the far post and in. Six minutes later, Madison Szafranski broke into the 18-yard box and was taken down from behind. Szafranski converted the penalty herself for her first goal of the year.

The next goal didn’t come until the 33rd minute when Hilary Fisher corralled a loose ball and sent to Katerina Cook, who in turn passed it to Jada Hill. Hill sprinted down the wing and sent a shot into the bottom corner to put Cowichan up 3-0 at halftime.

The second half, Paulson said, turned into “The Alyssa Klotz Show.” Klotz got things going again almost as quickly as she did in the first half, burying a deflection from a shot by Seleana Jack in the 47th minute. She scored her third of the game on another deflection in the 65th minute, this time volleying a rebound off a shot by Dennene Wallace. Almost immediately after the restart, defender Sam Walker stripped the ball from a Peninsula forward and sent a perfect pass to Klotz, who beat the goalie with a shot to the top corner.

Peninsula finally had an opportunity of their own in the 78th minute, when a direct free kick from 20 yards out caromed off the back post. Cowichan keeper Kate Collins came off her line quickly and claimed the ball before an onrushing Peninsula player could tap it in.

With her four goals, Klotz moved into a tie with Jada Hill for the team lead with nine on the season, also tied for the second-highest total in the league. Madison Jack is close behind with eight.

United will be back at home this Sunday, playing host to Lakehill at the Sherman Road turf at noon.

The O30A Cowichan Cougars had another game postponed last weekend and are still waiting to play their first game as a full A division team after a mid-season promotion in early November. They are scheduled to play at home against Gorge FC at Sherman Road turf this Saturday at 6 p.m.

NIFA Pacific also had their match postponed last weekend and are scheduled to play host to Prospect Lake Lakers at the Cowichan Sportsplex this Saturday at 1 p.m.



Kevin Rothbauer

About the Author: Kevin Rothbauer

Kevin Rothbauer is the sports reporter for the Cowichan Valley Citizen
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