HOBBTON – Freshman Maya McDonald poured a ‘Hat Trick’ plus two of five goals into the net Friday night to lead East Bladen to a 9-1 non-conference girls soccer victory over Hobbton.
McDonald also dished out two assists in the game. Junior Sydney Wober fired in 2 goals and had one assist. Senior Ashley Hardin delivered 2 assists and scored a goal. Sophmore Patience Ward scored the other Lady Eagle goal, and junior Gracyn Martin and sophmore Katie Evans added one assist each.
Wober came off the bench in the 11th minute to turn a feed from McDonald into the first East Bladen goal. A minute later McDonald sent a cross to Ward who banged in the second Lady Eagle goal.
Two minutes later McDonald dribbled through several players and drilled a shot past the keeper from 35 yards out for her first goal of the game.
Hobbton trimmed the East lead to 3-1 in the 24th minute with a goal on a loose ball from a corner kick.
Five minutes later McDonald turned a pass from Hardin into her second goal and boosted the Lady Eagle halftime lead to 4-1.
Wober boomed the second half kick-off deep to the Hobbton backline, and McDonald beat the defense to the ball, rushed to the goal and finished past the keeper for her third goal only 12 seconds into the half.
Two minutes later Wober received a pass from McDonald and blasted the ball past the keeper to pad the East lead to 6-1.
In the 45th minute, Hardin sent another pass to McDonald who curled what Coach Jay Raynor called “a beautiful shot” past the keeper and into the back corner for a 7-1 lead.
About the next East Bladen goal, Raynor said, “Gracyn delivered a beautiful cross to Maya in the box who volleyed the ball out of the air one time and past the keeper for her fifth goal in the 48th minute.”
With 15 minutes remaining, Hardin took a feed from Evans and blasted a deep shot that screamed past the keeper.
“The girls played a heck of a game,” said Raynor. “They owned it today. You could tell it on the ride over that today was going to be their day. I didn’t have to coach tonight. The girls took the game into their hands. They communicated and held each other accountable. It was fun to watch.”
Raynor praised the play of the midfield, “They had a great game. Katie is giving us so much in the midfield. Ashley, Sydney, Kenia (Medina), Sara (Gargala), Maya…we can really bring some weapons into the middle of the park. Gracyn and Cybil (Campbell) are doing well on the flanks but we need to get them more involved in our attack.”
“Bailey (Davis) had an awesome game!” added Raynor. “She showed some confidence and flashes in some one on one situations. Heather (Hardin) also had a heck of a game.”
Raynor concluded, “ I am very proud of the girls and the improvement they have made to become a better team. It was fun to see them playing hard with intensity and with each other.”
East Bladen improved to 4-0 and will host East Columbus Monday at 6 p.m.
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