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Huskies cruise in league opener

Chris Freud
BMGS Plath, Kaity BH 3-14
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EDWARDS – Tuesday’s Slope soccer opener was either a really good start or something a team hopes to put in the rearview mirror quickly, depending on one’s allegiance. Battle Mountain ripped Eagle Valley, 10-1, in Edwards to move to 2-0 for the season. The Huskies hope to build on Tuesday’s win with games against Moffat County Thursday and a showdown with archrival, Steamboat Springs, on Saturday. The Devils, meanwhile, hope to put Tuesday’s game behind them quickly with Delta coming up on Thursday.”We’ve got some work to do. It’s always tough coming out and playing Battle Mountain at home, especially the first game,” Devils coach Timothy Hay said, noting that his team’s season opener Saturday against Aspen was snowed out. “We’re trying to replace some things. We’ve got some defensive work to do. Battle Mountain played a great game, and you can’t take anything away from them.””Their game against Aspen was snowed out. We’ve had a lot of training sessions, so that’s been an advantage,” Huskies coach David Cope said. “I certainly expect it to be closer against Eagle the second time.”But for now when it comes to county bragging rights in girls’ soccer, advantage Battle Mountain.

“It’s nice to win against Eagle Valley because it’s a rivalry,” said Huskies goalie Kaity Plath, who also scored as a field player. “It’s good for all of us. It’s definitely a confidence booster. We know they really wanted to beat us, and we brought our stuff today.”A hat trick …Battle Mountain controlled from start to finish. Stephany Walker blasted a corner kick into the Devils’ box where Christina Harrison was right on the spot for the redirect.”I was in back with Morgan (Wallace),” Harrison said. “All of a sudden, Morgan goes, ‘Just go up there.’ I took it up the side and the ball was passed in. One of our girls missed it, and it just came straight toward me. I just let it go.”The Huskies’ Julia Burnett got the next two, the latter coming on a helper from Kelsey Sanders, on her way to her second hat trick in as many games. That lead Cope to amend his patented phrase.

“Of course, a hat trick at any level is quite an accomplishment. But two hat tricks in a row at any level is spectacular.”Then it was Plath’s turn. She answered Eagle Valley’s only goal of the game – by Tania Silva – with score from Kate Van Hee. Christy Madison to Sanders wrapped the half at 5-1.Sanders, Sydney and Guida, oh mySanders was in on Battle Mountain’s first three goals of the second half. She assisted Burnett for the hat trick, scored her second of the game, on a pass from Sydney Nichols, and then assisted Hannah Guida on her first varsity goal.In all, Sanders had two goals and two assists.



“It was good to see Kelsey Sanders get on track. She perhaps was feeling a bit left out by her friend Jules,” Cope joked. “Kelsey had a great game.”Guida’s goal came when Sanders ripped a shot on which Devils goalie Mary Cochrane made a superb save. Guida trailed the rebound and roofed it.”It was especially cool to see Hannah Guida score her goal,” Harrison said. “It was just so surprising and it was just an awesome goal.”Cochrane shines

Late in the game, Madison slipped one past Cochrane on a corner kick. It was one of the few mistakes the Eagle Valley keeper made all day.Despite the lopsided score, Cochrane was easily her team’s best player, making many quality saves, considering the suspect defense in front of her, not too mention the constant pressure by Battle Mountain.”Mary’s always going to have great games,” Hay said. “It’s hard to put anybody in with that many shots. I think she had nine saves by halftime. You’ve got to be realistic. If they’re going to get many shots, their opportunities are going to fall.””I thought Mary made some great saves,” Cope said. “You get into a close game and they have a goalkeeper like that, you never know what could happen. I think our girls sensed that. At the beginning. they wanted to score goals. The longer Mary keeps a shutout, you never know. She could stand on her head and we could be in trouble.”Kelly Van Hee finished it with her first goal.

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Just for kicksHarrison won Gianbottiglio, but the award’s next winner might be cautious. “Chances are it’s going to chill in my bag,” she said. And how does your bag smell these days, Christina? “Probably not the greatest,” she joked. Speaking of bags, The Bag went to Morgan Wallace for her traditionally stout defense. The Necklace, for creativity, went to Caroline Gallegos for her celebration dance when Guida scored. … Huskies assistant coaches Jen Davin and Jenelle Ferri shared the Oscar for best female coach in a supporting role. They’d like to than all the little people who made it possible. … Eagle Valley (0-1) takes on Delta at Gypsum Town Field at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Battle Mountain (2-0), in a scheduling change, tentatively hosts Moffat County at 3 p.m. in Edwards on the same day. The Bulldogs’ field in Craig is unplayable.Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 14630 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.Vail, Colorado


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