GIRLS SOCCER Hubbard prevails in the rain

The Eagles posted a 4-1 win over Girard to remain undefeated in the Trumbull Athletic Conference.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HUBBARD -- Patriotism at the beginning, a downpour throughout the contest and finally lightning that ended the game early were all integral parts of Thursday's girls Trumbull Athletic Conference soccer match.
Jamie Duvall's goal with the game nine minutes old broke a 1-1 tie, giving Hubbard a lead that would stand up in a 4-1 victory over Girard.
For Girard (3-3, 3-1 TAC), its top scorer, junior Jenny Sopkovich, scored the first goal of the match with a shot from about 18 yards out with just three minutes elapsed.
It was Sopkovich's 14th goal of the season and the 45th of her career.
Madeline ties it: Two minutes later, Hubbard (4-1-1, 3-0) sophomore Jaimie Madeline kicked in a goal from deep on the left side to tie the score.
"I was bringing it down the field to cross to the center and with nobody open I kicked it deep from the left side and made it," Madeline said.
At the 31-minute mark, Duvall, Hubbard's center-forward and top scorer, with an assist from Mary Newberry, scored her eighth goal of the season for the 2-1 lead.
"I got the pass in the center from Mary and with a move more to the middle it was a race between their goal-keeper and me," said Duvall.
DeJulio makes it 3-1: With the rain falling harder at the beginning of the second half, junior center midfielder Anna DeJulio hit a goal from 15 yards out on the left side in the first minute for a 3-1 lead.
Eight minutes later, with an assist from Madeline, DeJulio hit her second goal inside the box for a 4-1 lead.
"Our forwards did a great job of getting the ball back into the center and that really helped me, especially on the second goal," DeJulio said.
Shortly after DeJulio's second goal a lightning storm hit and it continued after a wait by the officials, who ultimately called the match.
Smith;s view: Denny Smith, in his 11th season as coach of Hubbard, said, "The weather didn't permit us to go to our short passing game and to Girard's credit they kept us back on our heels throughout the game.
"We were fortunate to have the two early second half goals to give us a good margin."
Smith praised the play of sophomore Brittany McKee. "We got an exceptional defensive game from McKee, our sweeper."
"This is the best we have played Hubbard," Girard coach Don Hudzik said. "They are a very well coached and good team and we use them as a measuring stick for our season."