Under the lights at Guilford Tuesday, sophomore Ellie Austin finished off three goals en route to the 7-1 girls soccer victory for Penobscot Valley over Piscataquis Community.
Lila Cummings broke the 0-0 tie about twelve minutes into the game, when she stole the ball at midfield and dribbled her way up the field. After sidestepping a few defenders, she blasted a low shot from beyond the 18 yard line that curved into the corner for the unassisted goal. About eight minutes later, Austin had a beautiful pass through the back line of the defense to Rylee Moulton, who corralled the ball and went one on one with the keeper and sent it past her. The third and final goal of the half came from Austin, as she made an inside cut on her defender as Cummings sent a perfectly placed ball to her feet. Austin one-touched it into the upper left side of the goal to make it 3-0. PCHS would strike back late in the half, when Hope Hunt centered a pass to Kendall Kimball from about 35 yards out. Kimball sent a high lofting shot that floated up and over PVHS goalkeeper Lauryn Smart that found its way to the back of the net.
The first 15 minutes of the second half went scoreless, until Cummings fired a long shot again. This one was denied by a deep defender, but the rebound found Moulton’s feet who pushed it past goalie Bella Buehne. Austin would strike twice in the matter of 70 seconds later on, the first of which came from a long pass beyond midfield from Cummings. Austin won a battle for the ball from a PCHS defender, and sent a high line drive into the net. Her last goal came when Holly Loring attacked the edge and sent a nice low pass to an awaiting Moulton. Moulton’s shot was blocked, but Austin was there to put in the rebound. The final goal of the evening came from Ashlyn St. Cyr with only eight seconds left in the contest. St. Cyr sidestepped defenders as she dribbled toward the goal, got within the 18 yard line and fired a shot into the net for the games last score.
Penobscot Valley’s Smart saved 4 of 6 shots for the winners, who improved to 11-0-1 on the season. The Howlers will host Mattanawcook Academy on Saturday, which will be their last home game of the regular season.
Bella Buehne stopped 14 of 30 shots for the Pirates, who slipped to 5-5-1. They travel to Lee Academy to face the Pandas on Thursday.
