In a closely contested match, Kaw Valley Force White fell to the Salina Machine Saturday in a Kaw Valley Cup Tournament 14U division game. After a quick start, KVF White stalled after Salina tied the game just before halftime. Unable to find the net in the second half, KVF White allowed one more goal to slip by their defenses and dropped the game 2-1 at Youth Sports Inc.

For a large portion of the opening half, it looked as though Force would take care of the game with ease. With the forwards constantly pressuring the Salina defense, the Force found the net first just 10 minutes into the game.

KVF forward Tor Fornelli, a minute after his first attempt on goal, exploited a breakdown in the Salina defense and streaking downfield took a pass in stride and scooped it past a charging goalkeeper to raucous applause from parents and fans. The goal put KVF up 1-0 but would prove to be their only successful shot on goal.

With time winding down in the half, the Salina Machine kicked it into high gear and after an unsuccessful penalty kick, used a counterattack to even the game at a goal apiece. Machine forward Daniel Blevins took a cross and got past the Force sweeper before drilling the ball into the back of the net.

“It was a pretty nice play,” Blevins said. “I took the ball off a cross and took it in off one touch for the score.”

If the first goal stunned Kaw Valley Force, the second one knocked all the wind out of them. Both teams upped the level of intensity, but the defense held strong for both squads until Salina found the net again midway through the second half. This time it was Salina forward James Wilson who did the damage and the Force didn’t have time to recover.

KVF White forward Tor Fornelli chips a shot past the Salina Machine goalkeeper in the first half. Fornelli had the only goal in a 2-1 loss against Salina Saturday at Youth Sports Inc.

KVF had their chances to score in the first half, but in the second a rejuvenated Salina defense kept them out of the box and limited their attempts on goal. With fewer attempts and more pressure every time one happened to roll around, KVF came up short, losing a tough battle.

“The first half we focused on pressuring with offense and we lacked on defense,” Blevins said. “In the second, we stepped up on defense and focused more on controlling possession.”

Salina came away with the victory and KVF White used the game as motivation for a big victory later that night, defeating the BFC Highlanders 5-0 under the lights at Youth Sports Inc. bringing their tournament record to 1-1-1.