By JEREMY SELLEW
Coming into its game against unbeaten Trinity, the Belle Vernon Area girls soccer team knew there was a battle brewing.
Trinity was unbeaten, but the Leopards knew why – they hadn’t played them yet.
BVA got on the board first and used three goals in a span of 17 minutes to race out to a 3-0 halftime lead en route to a 6-2 Section 2-3A win and remain one game behind first-place Connellsville in the section standings.
“This was a huge win for us and we needed it,” BVA head coach Tracy Lovett said. “We’ve been preparing for this game and really looking forward to it. I think we had a little chip on our shoulder because it’s like some people forgot about us in the section.”
Jillian Butchki finished with a hat trick, with all the goals coming in the second half, and Izzy Laurita scored both of her goals in the first half to lead the Leopards (5-1, 4-1).
While the Hillers (4-1, 4-1) got a pair of second-half goals from Alyssa Clutter, they were stymied from many others by BVA goalkeeper Grace Henderson.
Just hours after winning a cross-country race, Henderson finished with eight saves, some spectacular, showing off her range and athleticism.
“Grace was fantastic tonight,” Lovett said. “As far as this season goes, this was her biggest test and she passed it with flying colors. She made some great, athletic saves tonight.”
Henderson’s biggest save was made on a hard shot as she dived to her right to get a body on a hard shot from the center of the box.
“She really showed off her athleticism today and I think that’s going to give her even more confidence as we move later in the season,” Lovett said.
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