WOMEN’S SOCCER

It was a Senior Day celebration in every sense of the word Saturday afternoon at King Stadium. Honoring nine graduating seniors before kickoff, the Huntington women’s soccer team produced its most explosive offensive performance of the season, thumping Crossroads League rival Saint Francis 6-1 for its first conference victory of the campaign.

The six-goal tally marks HU’s highest scoring output of the season and represents the program’s largest margin of victory over the Cougars since a 7-1 decision in 2018. The Foresters (6-4-1, 1-4-0 CL) have now controlled the rivalry over the past decade, posting a 6-2-2 mark in their last 10 meetings against Saint Francis (6-8-0, 0-5-0 CL).

Appropriately, HU’s senior class took center stage in the rout, accounting for four of the six goals and four of the team’s five assists.

The Cougars opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Haleigh Wesley capitalized on a miscue by the Forester defense away from the box. But Huntington’s response was immediate and overwhelming. Less than two minutes later, senior midfielder Elana McGinnis sliced a through ball past the backline to senior forward Maria Paladino, who slipped a near-post finish past the keeper in the 11th minute to level the match 1-1.

Huntington grabbed the lead for good in the 14th minute courtesy of freshman forward Payton Toth. Toth bullied her way through a pair of defenders in the penalty area before unleashing a wicked left-footed strike into the upper 90.

In the 30th minute, Paladino played provider off a corner kick, serving a ball far post to senior defender Jezmin Castellanos, who hammered a one-touch finish into the net for her first career goal in Forester green to send HU into the locker room with a commanding 3-1 advantage.

The Foresters carried that momentum directly into the second half, earning a player advantage in the 55th minute following a Saint Francis red card. Seconds later, McGinnis won a ball off a long Forester throw-in and flicked it toward fellow senior Jianna Simons, who finished cleanly with a one-touch strike into the far side netting to make it 4-1.

Huntington added two more insurance tallies to close out the contest. In the 62nd minute, senior forward Sophie Shepherd drove to the endline and delivered a pinpoint feed to Toth for a tap-in finish, giving Toth her second goal of the afternoon. Paladino then put the finishing touches on her own multi-goal performance in the 84th minute, nodding home a driven corner kick from Toth.

Huntington overwhelmed USF in every phase of the match, outshooting the Cougars 20-7 overall with a 14-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Foresters also earned an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Junior goalkeeper Macie Sanders earned the win between the posts, stopping one of the two shots on goal she faced over 87:43 of action. Freshman keeper Breann Cory saw the final 2:17 in relief, facing no shots.

Prior to kickoff, Huntington recognized its nine-member senior class: Isabella Lynch, Jadá-Mia Lee, Maria Paladino, Sophie Shepherd, Jianna Simons, Ally Oppenhuizen, Jezmin Castellanos, Olivia Bontreger, and Elana McGinnis.

“I’m so proud of the energy, togetherness, and fight this team brought tonight,” said head coach Keaton Albert. “There’s something special about a group that plays for each other, celebrates each other, and competes with so much joy. A great way to honor our seniors and the standard they’ve helped build. I’m grateful for the story God continues to build in us. We will bring this belief into our next match!”

Up Next
Huntington remains at home at King Stadium on Wednesday to host Goshen in Crossroads League action at 6:00 p.m.