At Howland Friday, Ellie Austin recorded a hat trick to help propel Penobscot Valley past the Maine School of Science and Mathematics 6-0.
Austin netted the first goal just 5 minutes into the game, when she received a Rebecca Carson corner kick, and put it in the lower right corner. Ellie struck again just 8 minutes later, when Julia Durost received a ball near the outside of the penalty box area and sent a low liner across the 6 yard line, where Austin 1-touched it past the MSSM keeper.
Durost would score the game’s third goal at the 23 minute mark, when an MSSM defender tried to clear a ball wide. Julia ran in on the ball and put it above the goalie’s hands, just underneath the crossbar. With seven minutes to go before halftime, Ali Gilman attacked a low goal kick from the Penguins and sent the ball over to Austin, where she collected it, sidestepped a defender, and scored her 3rd goal. Penobscot Valley would go up 5-0 right before the half, when Maggie LeBlanc would convert a penalty kick.
The only scoring that occured in the second half came courtesy of the Loring twins. Holly Loring received the ball on the outside and darted toward the endline. She made a perfect low pass near the penalty kick line, where sister Kaya 1-touched the ball with the outside of her foot into the corner of the net.
As they’ve done all year, the Howler defense refused to give their opponent quality opportunities, as they and goalie Emilee Ireland registered their 12th shutout of the season in 14 games. PVHS will host Hodgdon on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
