Lara's hat trick lifts Rochelle over Ottawa 4-3 on Saturday

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team clinched a fifth-place finish in the Interstate 8 Conference tournament on Saturday, holding off Ottawa 4-3 in the No. 4 seed vs. No. 6 seed matchup. Sophomore Makayla Lara scored three goals to spearhead the charge for the Lady Hubs (6-9, 3-3 Interstate 8), who will host Pecatonica at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. 

Senior Mavi Avila added one goal in the victory, while senior Jasmin Hernandez and sophomore Emma Kennay each notched assists for the Rochelle offense. Junior Danica Ward compiled 11 saves for the Lady Hubs, who outshot Ottawa 31-16 but were outpaced 14-13 in shots on goal. 

Rochelle took a 1-0 lead early in the match, with Kennay finding Avila for a goal during the third minute. Lara’s first goal of the match came in the 16th minute and put Rochelle ahead 2-0. That score stood until midway through the second half, when the Pirates scored in the 55th minute to cut the Lady Hub advantage to one. Back-to-back goals from Lara during the 62nd and 64th minutes, with the latter being assisted by Hernandez, allowed Rochelle to take a 4-1 lead.

Ottawa nearly rallied to tie the match, scoring unanswered goals during the 69th and 76th minutes to bring the Lady Hubs within one for the second time. But the Rochelle defense stood tall over the final four minutes, holding the Pirates to only one shot during that timespan.