Lakeview bounces Hubbard

October 25, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

CORTLAND

The Lakeview girls soccer team offense is clicking at just the right time.

The Bulldogs’ defense can be downright offensive as well.

Four Bulldogs scored goals while the top-seeded Lakeview defense limited Hubbard to just three shots on goal in Monday’s 4-1 victory to advance to the district championship game against second-seeded Howland.

Rachel Braunegg, Hope Churley, Reagan Rosenberger and Hailey Raines scored goals as the Bulldogs (13-3-1) beat Hubbard for the third time this season.

Braunegg’s goal, her 30th this season at 28:46 of the opening period, staked the Bulldogs to a 1-0 advantage. It was the 136th goal of her career. She needs one more to tie the school record.

“I was pretty far out and I really don’t take that kind of shot,” Braunegg said. “I ran to the ball, shot it with my left foot and was able to sneak it in.”

Churley’s goal at 20:16 was her first of the season.

“I was wide open and Maddy Clark found me,” Churley said. “I buried it in the bottom left side of the goal.”

Lakeview head coach Shawn Varley was not satisfied with a 2-0 lead at intermission.

“In the first half, we came out and played the same style as Hubbard,” Varley said. “We were bypassing the midfield and trying to hit a target player and it wasn’t working, even though we had some opportunities.

“We had to get back to our core style of play, use the midfielders, be patient, change the point of attack and then go forward,” Varley said. “We have five midfielders out there, so kicking it over their heads just didn’t make sense.

“We had to change our style of play in the second half and once we got that set, it was a matter of making clean passes and getting behind their back line,” Varley said. “They were double-teaming Rachel and it was tough to get inside the box.

“The first two times that we played there was tons of space and it was easier to get behind that back line.”

Clark, a freshman, drew praise from Varley for her overall play and keen passing.

“Maddy now has 21 assists on the season and that is absolutely fantastic for a freshman,” Varley said. “She has played really well all season.”

Rosenberger’s 17th goal of the year at 32:40 of the second half increased the Bulldogs’ margin to 3-0.

“Maddy assisted and I was able to chip it over the goalie’s head,” Rosenberger said.

When Raines buried her sixth goal at 25:55, the lead was 4-0.

“We had a good combo in the right corner,” Raines said. “Bella [Kakiou] took the throw in, Rachel dummied it between her legs and I just kicked it in the bottom left corner,” Raines said.

Hubbard (9-6-4) avoided the shutout when Cassidy Costic, assisted by Marissa Grande, found the back of the net at the 5:01 mark.

“Lakeview is a very good team and while we tried hard and gave it our all, we just came up short,” Hubbard coach Scott MacMillan said.

“We started the season with 22 players, are down five starters and played tonight with just 14 players, but there are no excuses.”

Thursday’s title game will be a rematch of last year’s district semifinal game, which was won by the Tigers, 1-0.