NORWICH – Valley Heights Christian Academy opened the 2009 soccer season hosting the Oswego Royals at Weiler Park Friday, Sept. 11, For the VHCA girls this was the same opponent they defeated 1-0 in double overtime for the playoff championship last season. This time, the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

VHCA scored the first and only goal of the first half when Mickala Miller netted a goal at 4:43 of the first period assisted by Cheyanne Ditty.

Emily Rumo opened the second-half scoring for the Royals with a goal at 29:12 and added a second goal at 19:11. The Crusaders tied the score at 13:16 when Amanda Evans took a shot from the 18-yard box, and Sarah Miedema redirected past the goalie.

The Crusaders’ boys team also defeated the Royals,10-2. Luke Halberg scored three first-period goals at 28:28, 23:04, and 10:02 assisted by Andrew Hunt, Reid Rose and Justin Miller respectively. Miller scored at 17:51 and Hunt at 3:07 both assisted by L. Halberg. Halberg opened the second-half scoring with a goal at 29:06 assisted by Ryan Rose. Ryan Rose netted a goal at 22:02 when Halberg took the ball deep and fed it back to Rose coming down the slot.

Miller scored at 17:15 when he headed a Halberg shot. Brennen Lawton netted a goal at 16:42 assisted by Halberg, and Reid Rose closed out the scoring at 5:26 taking a shot straight on from the top of 18-yard box.

On Saturday Sept. 12, the Crusaders traveled to Penn Yan to play the Emmanuel Baptist Academy Rams with both Crusader teams coming home with a win. The girls won 10-2, and boys, 6-3.

Kyra Lowie opened the scoring for the Crusaders at 26:23 of the first half assisted by Shelby Richards. Becky Lawton scored the Crusaders second goal at 20:55, and Meidema added a goal at 15:33 assisted by Richards. Richards then scored two goals, one at 8:20 and 7:32.

Second-half scoring was started by Tiffany Davis at 25:46. Richards scored at 22:40, and S. Meidema at 21:20. Ditty netted a goal at 11:52 and Amanda Evans closed out the VHCA scoring at 7:09.

In the boys’ game Halberg open the scoring at 24:16 and added another at 22:18. Lawton scored at 20:30 assisted by Halberg. Ryan Rose closed out the first-half scoring with a goal at 3:02 assisted by Halberg.

VHCA second half scoring included goals by Halberg at 19:03 and Yoder at 12:09.

Girls' Summary

Goals-assists: (VHCA) Miller 1-0, Miedema 1-0, Ditty 0-1, Evans 0-1; (OR) Rumo 2-0.