Girls Soccer: Lady Hubs bow out in IHSA 2A Regional Semifinals
Belvidere North shuts out Rochelle 9-0 on Wednesday
ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team faced Belvidere North in the semifinal round of the IHSA 2A Rochelle Regional on Wednesday, falling 9-0 to finish the season with a 7-10 overall record and a 3-3 record in the Interstate 8 Conference.
The third-seeded Blue Thunder held a significant shot advantage over the fifth-seeded Lady Hubs, outshooting Rochelle 23-3 and 20-1 in shots on goal. Junior Danica Ward recorded 11 saves in net for the Lady Hubs, who fell behind early after Belvidere North scored its first goal of the match during the seventh minute. The Blue Thunder continued to attack the Lady Hub defense throughout the first half, scoring in the 12th and 13th minutes to earn a 3-0 advantage.
Belvidere North held a 7-0 lead at halftime after adding one goal in the 22nd minute as well as two goals in the 29th minute and another goal in the 40th minute. The Blue Thunder sealed their semifinal victory in the shortened second half, where Belvidere North added goals in the 46th and 63rd minutes. Sophomore midfielder Makayla Lara totaled two shots and junior forward Kara Martinez finished with one shot on goal to lead the Lady Hub offense in the loss.
Rochelle finished with 49 goals and 24 assists in 17 total matches this season. The Lady Hubs, who took fifth in the Interstate 8 tournament earlier in the season, compiled 128 saves on defense, with Ward recording 92 saves and freshman Deissy Torres adding 31 saves. Lara led the Lady Hubs with 22 goals and Martinez finished with six goals and a team-high five assists. Senior midfielder Mavi Avila ended the season with seven goals and two assists for Rochelle.
More notable contributors include junior Sydney Thorne (four goals and two assists) and sophomore Betty Flores (two goals and three assists) as well as senior defenders Kailey Harris (one goal and three assists) and Jasmin Hernandez (two goals and one assist). Sophomore Evi Mendez totaled two goals and sophomore Emma Kennay added one goal and one assist.