After a five-goal offensive explosion by the Bruins in the first half, they found the big win they've so desperately been looking for against region opponent Screaming Eagles.
"Team really stepped up in some areas that we have been working on and it really showed tonight," Head Coach Chris Carmichael said. "They were more patient in possession at the right times and were extremely attack-minded throughout the game. We were able to get numbers up more quickly and were creating a lot more goal scoring opportunities. Hats off to every player on the team as they all did a fantastic job. Lydia Howell was on fire tonight and was continually dangerous in and around the box."
The Bruins came out extremely hot in the offensive attack and scored all five of their goals of the match in the first 36 minutes. They utilized a good side-to-side attack starting with the wingers and crossing it into the box. That movement opened up the middle of the field for the Bruins to score their first goal when Madison Avelino found Lydia Howell to make it 1-0 in the 9th minute. Howell preceded to score the next three goals for the Bruins across the next 12 minutes. The next two were assisted by Julia Hartzler from the wing and easily tapped in. Howell scored her fourth goal in the 21st minute to give the Bruins a commanding 4-0 lead.
The big lead allowed Coach Carmichael to put in the second team and they provided the same kinds of opportunities. Mady Pfaffenroth, Kate Myers, and Lily Davis all fired shots constantly, but the Screaming Eagles goalkeeper saved many of them. Lily Davis was able to find the back of the net in the 37th minute to give the Bruins a 5-0 halftime lead.
Though the second half was scoreless for the Bruins, they still dominated the match with 13 shots in the half. The possession continued, and gave the Screaming Eagles very little time to respond. The one shot that Toccoa Falls got away was saved by Ryleigh Tootle who came on to start the second half.Â
The Bruins outshot the Screaming Eagles 34-1 led by Lydia Howell who had seven. Amelia Peters and Mady Pfaffenroth both had four shots on goal but couldn't convert.
After the match, senior defender Estrella Cruz added her thoughts: "I'm really proud of the girls. It was a strong team effort, and obviously a 5-0 win is a great result. We possessed the ball well, created a lot of opportunities, and even with a lot of people rotating in, I thought everyone contributed and the level stayed high."
Madison Avelino also added her thoughts: "It was such a great match today from our team. Players have really started stepping up the intensity in practice, and it showed today on the field. I can't wait to see even more improvement from the team as our season continues."
The Bruins are hoping this provides a spark going into their next match when they host Trinity College of Jacksonville at Alumni Stadium on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. This is considered a must-win.
Â
