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The LaGrange girls soccer team made it two wins in a row with a 6-1 victory over Mary Persons on Friday in the team’s home opener. 

Senior Emma Maradik opened the scoring early in the first half. The ball pin balled around in the box before finding the feet of Maradik, who slotted home.

It was a big moment for the senior, who has transitioned from goalkeeper, where she was an All-Region player, to the midfield to help a young Granger squad out.

“We love having Emma in the midfield and her goal tonight really sparked us,” winger Amelia Rockwell said. “She’s done a really good job and so has our new goalkeeper Morgan (Barber).”

One of those young Grangers making an impact did just that to single the LaGrange advantage in the first half. Freshman Audrey Hill picked up a ball outside of the box and cannoned a shot into the lower corner of the net for her first varsity goal.

“I didn’t even believe it, because it was with my non-dominant foot, and it just went in. I didn’t believe it at all and just turned around to my teammates in shock and excitement,” an ecstatic Hill said after the game. 

The Bulldogs fought to stay in the match and scored just five minutes before halftime to cut the LaGrange lead in half.

The Grangers started off the second half on the right foot and nearly doubled their lead when Reese Humphries had a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper but saw her shot palmed away 13 minutes into the half. 

Humphries was a woman on a mission in the second half and saw two more shots saved just minutes later, including one that trickled just inches wide of the post.

The goal in the second half was coming and when it did come it was Amelia Rockwell who sprinted past the Bulldog defense, cut the ball back and found the back of the net with 22 minutes left in the game.

“We weren’t happy with the performance in the first half and wanted to come out and put the game out of reach,” Rockwell said. 

Just three minutes later, Rockwell had her second of the night as her long-ranged shot trickled out of the goalkeeper’s glove and into the goal. 

Rockwell’s torrid second half would continue as her assist set up Hill’s second goal of the night with 17 minutes left on the clock.

Despite Rockwell’s dominant performance in the second half, the night belonged to Hill. The freshman capped off her hat trick late in the game.

“Scoring is fun, but winning makes it even more fun and that’s what we’ve done the last two games and it feels like a relief,” Hill said. 

LaGrange improved to 2-6 overall and 2-0 in region play. The Grangers will return to action next Thursday at home against Spalding in another important region matchup. After seven straight away matches to start the season the Grangers are happy to be back playing in front of their home faithful.

“These last two games have really helped change the mindset of the team,” Rockwell said. “Finally getting to play in front of our friends and family helps too.”