MENDOTA — There were smiles and celebrations on the Rochelle sideline when the final buzzer sounded during the Lady Hub varsity soccer team’s nonconference road match against Mendota on Tuesday.

Rochelle went scoreless over its first three matches of the season, but the Lady Hubs broke through Tuesday evening, with three players finding the net as the team cruised over Mendota 5-1. Sophomore Sydney Thorne and freshman Makayla Lara each scored twice in the victory, while senior Madison Ost added one goal and junior Mavi Avila recorded one assist. Sophomore Dani Ward totaled eight saves.

“The last time we faced Mendota was my freshman season and we lost 6-2,” Ost said. “It was a great win because it was our best performance as a team and we all came together really well. Multiple girls scored goals and that’s a huge confidence booster for us. We had multiple starters on defense leave with injuries, but we had girls come off the bench and step up. Everyone found a way to contribute to our win.”

The Lady Hubs (1-3) applied the pressure early, putting two shots on goal before Thorne scored the first goal of the match on a right-footed boot during the 12th minute. Rochelle extended its lead during the 30th minute, when the left-footed freshman Lara sent a corner kick into the Mendota box that Ost cashed in through a crowd of Trojan defenders. Rochelle led 2-0 and held a halftime lead for the first time this season.

“Scoring the first goal of our season was a great feeling and I think this win will give us a lot more hope for the season,” Thorne said. “I’m hoping to connect with my teammates and help us win more matches this season. Last season was tough and I want to help us have a better season this year. Our connections weren’t very strong when the season began, but I think we’re learning how to play with each other.”

Playing against the wind during the second half, Rochelle refused to slow down, surging ahead 3-0 when Lara lofted a left-footed shot over the Mendota goalkeeper during the 46th minute. Lara then capitalized on a breakaway chance in the 54th minute, with the freshman midfielder beating the Trojan defense to the ball and scoring her second goal of the evening. Mendota avoided the shutout with a goal in the 66th minute, but the Lady Hubs answered with Thorne’s second goal of the match during the 78th minute.

“We work hard in practice and I think this win shows how far we’ve already come,” Lara said. “It boosts my confidence when I’m able to score and I feel like I can keep going. Whenever I can get shots on goal, it pushes me more and more. We have a lot of players with great potential and we’re always on each other about working as a team and coming together. The faster we can do that, the better we’ll perform.”