At Howland Saturday, the Lady Howlers scored four first-half goals en route to a 7-2 soccer win over Penquis.
Sophomore Ellie Austin was the first one to score. Lila Cummings controlled the ball at midfield, and sent a hard pass on the ground past the defensive line where Austin tracked it down. Ellie put the ball in the lower left corner with her opposite foot. Rylee Moulton was next on the board, as she scored in similar fashion to Austin going one on one with Penquis’ goalie Brooklyn Decker. Moulton’s score came from an assist by Aubrey Dionne. An unassisted goal by Cummings gave PVHS a 3-0 cushion with 15 minutes to go in the half.
Penquis got on the board 90 seconds later, as Jessica Broussard took a turnover at the top of the 18 yard line, dribbled once, then found the left corner past keeper Lauryn Smart. It was the first time Penobscot Valley let up a goal since the first game of the season on September 3rd, a span of 28 calendar days. The final goal of the half came when Moulton drew a foul in the box, leading to a successful Kaya Loring penalty kick.
The second half saw the Howlers score three times in the first seven minutes. Holly Loring got it started as she one-touched a ball into the net off a high cross from the outside from Lauren Veino. Veino’s throw-in to Austin less than two minutes later led to a quick cutback and a lofting shot over Decker’s head and into the far corner of the goal. Penobscot Valley’s final goal came as Kaya Loring sent a pass across the 18 yard line to Cummings, who pivoted and fired a shot into the corner for a 7-1 lead. With under two minutes to go in the game and the ball being kicked around inside the goalie box, Penquis’ Layla Chai came away with it and sent it to the back of the net for the final goal of the game.
PVHS remained undefeated at 8-0 with the win, and will host Bangor Christian on Monday. Smart two saves on four shots for the Howlers. Penquis dropped to 3-5-2, and will have a little break before hosting Penobscot Valley on Wednesday. Decker recorded 16 saves on 35 shots.
