Yellow Pages
LA CONNER — Megan Raymond and the La Conner girls’ soccer team may be hitting their stride at just the right time.
Raymond scored three goals, including what proved to be the game winner in the 78th minute, Tuesday in a 4-3 Northwest 2B/1A League victory over Mount Vernon Christian.
Sydney Hartwick also scored for the Braves, who overcame a 3-1 Mount Vernon Christian lead at halftime for the victory.
The Braves improved their record to 3-2 in league and 4-6 overall.
Coach Amy Freeto said the Braves, who have a bevy of young players this season and have already had injuries to overcome, seem to be improving before their upcoming second round through the league schedule.
The Braves are young this season, with a roster that include 16 freshman and sophomores.
“Our team’s slowly coming together. It’s nice to see them honing things going into the second round of league,” Freeto said.
The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute on Raymond’s first goal, which came off an assist from Hartwick. The Hurricanes tied it in the ninth minute when Stephanie Geertsma found Rachel Freeman for a goal — a combination that proved fruitful again in the 12th minute, when they connected again for a 2-1 lead.
Jolene Houtsma’s penalty kick made it 3-1 before halftime arrived.
“They played fantastic,” Mount Vernon Christian coach Randy Vis said of the Hurricanes’ effort. “The first half was the best we’ve played all year ... in the first half we were aggressive, and in the second half La Conner came out aggressively.”
Raymond scored in the 49th minute to tie the game at three goals apiece.
Then, in the 78th minute, she stole the ball deep in Hurricanes territory and swept in for what proved to be the winning goal.
Myca Gilkey had three saves for the Braves; Katie Hoag had nine for the Hurricanes, including a great stop in the 77th minute on a one-on-one charge from Hartwick.
“Their keeper played great,” Freeto said of Hoag’s effort.
The Hurricanes dropped to 3-3 in league.
