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Hornberger nets hat trick as East Robertson blows out Greenbrier




East Robertson junior Anna Hornberger (5) tries to pass in the box as Greenbrier defender Kyra Eveble applies pressure. RUSSELL VANNOZZI

East Robertson junior Anna Hornberger (5) tries to pass in the box as Greenbrier defender Kyra Eveble applies pressure. RUSSELL VANNOZZI

CROSS PLAINS – East Robertson junior Anna Hornberger already had one hat trick this season, and she doubled her money with another in a 6-0 blowout victory over Greenbrier Thursday evening.

Hornberger scored the Lady Indians’ lone goal in the first half by placing a shot over the left shoulder of Greenbrier goalkeeper Ava Pierce in the 35th minute.

She beat Pierce again in the 52nd minute to make it 2-0, and she finished off the hat trick 10 minutes later with her third goal of the night. Hornberger also netted a hat trick in an 8-0 win over Davidson Academy Aug. 26.

“She’s scoring the ball really well,” East Robertson coach Todd Evilcizer said. “With the passes she creates, she makes everybody look better. She didn’t start playing soccer until ninth grade. But that’s what a good work ethic can do for you.”

After Hornberger secured the hat trick, her teammates joined the scoring fun. Senior Izzy Lanius scored goals in the 74th and 85th minutes, with a tally from Peyton Lackey sandwiched in between.

Greenbrier freshman Rebecca Stafford (left) brings the ball upfield while being pursued by Abby Drake.RUSSELL VANNOZZI

Greenbrier freshman Rebecca Stafford (left) brings the ball upfield while being pursued by Abby Drake.RUSSELL VANNOZZI

“The thing that concerned me about the first half was that we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities,” Evilcizer said. “We had a lot of shots that were hit wide or hit right to the goalkeeper’s stomach. But we stuck with the plan, and the (goals) started coming.”

Greenbrier struggled to muster many offensive chances. The team has nine freshmen in its playing rotation, and as many as six appear in the starting lineup.

“We’re relying on a lot of kids that are still learning the game,” Greenbrier coach Jonathan Sutton said. “We are still messing up on the small things right now. If we can minimize those mistakes from five or six a game to two or three a game, we’re going to be able to be more competitive.”

Ironically, most of the Lady Bobcats’ best moments came on defense. Despite allowing six goals, Pierce denied a dozen East Robertson shots in net and kept the Lady Bobcats in the game for the first 45 minutes.

East Robertson sophomore Peyton Lackey dribbles around a Greenbrier defender.RUSSELL VANNOZZI

East Robertson sophomore Peyton Lackey dribbles around a Greenbrier defender.RUSSELL VANNOZZI

“(East Robertson) did a great job moving the ball (around Pierce),” Sutton said. “Any time they shot it straight at her, she made the save. She was phenomenal. But sometimes when a girl gets the ball inside the six and shoots, you don’t have much time to react.”

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