SYCAMORE — The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team kicked off the Interstate 8 Conference schedule with a road match against the Sycamore Spartans on Wednesday. Despite hanging tough in the first half, where the Lady Hubs held Sycamore to just two goals, the Spartans capitalized on the tailwind during the second half, adding six goals to their total and cruising to an 8-0 victory over Rochelle (0-5, 0-1 Interstate 8) at the final whistle.

The Lady Hubs held Sycamore off the scoreboard until midway through the first half, when the Spartans scored two unanswered goals in the 14th and 18th minutes to take a 2-0 lead. Sycamore’s first goal in the 14th minute came on a left-footed shot from just outside the Rochelle penalty area, while the second goal in the 18th minute was the result of a successful through ball that rolled down the middle of the Lady Hub defense to set up the scoring chance.

Sycamore quickly utilized the tailwind to its advantage early in the second half, scoring back-to-back goals in the 42nd and 43rd minutes to hold a 4-0 lead over the Lady Hubs. The Spartans capitalized on a breakaway opportunity before scoring on a long cross shortly after.

Sycamore continued to attack midway through the second half, adding goals in the 51st and 52nd minutes on a pair of right-footed shots that soared over the middle of the Rochelle defensive line and goalkeeper Danica Ward. The Spartans iced their victory with consecutive goals in the 68th and 70th minutes, capitalizing on a defensive turnover by the Lady Hubs as well as a successful cross into the Rochelle penalty area that put Sycamore ahead 8-0.