Second-half adjustments spark Hornets Boyd scores twice, Ashland pulls away for 4-1 victory

ASHLAND – A frustrated Peter Belskis watched his Ashland girls soccer team manage just one goal in the first half of Tuesday afternoon’s game against Easton.

But as the second half wore on, and as the scoring increased and the Hornets finally seemed to understand their coach’s instructions, he was much more relaxed.

Ashland blasted in three second-half goals, including Kasie Boyd’s second of the game, and rolled to a 4-1 victory over the Bears at the girls’ field.

“It was like we hit a wall in that first half,” Belskis said, shaking his head. “I was like, girls, just give me another goal. They’re all around the net but they haven’t figured out how to execute in front of it.”

It was the second straight win for the Hornets, who were coming off a 1-0 victory over Central Aroostook of Mars Hill Monday night. They improved their record to 2-2, but Belskis and his team weren’t happy with their conversion rate of four goals on 28 shots.

Ashland had plenty of chances at the goal line and at close range, but late shots, off-speed steps or misfired crossing passes made it tough to score. Boyd’s first goal was a curled chip shot from beyond the 18-yard line.

“I stress a controlled offense and ball control,” Belskis said. “I wanted them to make a good play on the ball and not give it back. In the first half there was a kicking game going on. I told them at halftime, we had the ball, we had chances to cross. They’re gonna keep hearing that.”

The Hornets were aware they were making mistakes.

“We were crossing too much, not keeping the ball on the ground, not making good passes,” Boyd said.

Boyd made it 2-0 after halftime with the same kind of high chip shot, this time from the left side.

Even though Belskis pleaded with his team to keep its passes and shots on the ground, he was fine with Boyd’s boots in the air.

“Some of those, I would prefer her to take them in,” he said. “But she’s the one player who can make that shot because she’s so powerful with her left foot.”

Autumn Cobb, a senior back, blasted in a direct kick just 3 minutes, 20 seconds after Boyd’s second goal. Substitute Macie Pelkey recorded Ashland’s final goal off a pass – on the ground – from Crystal Cook.

Bears goalie Brianna White had a solid game with 12 saves and three goals allowed. Substitute Taylor Burtt allowed one goal and made five saves. Easton coach Evan Graves was pleased with the job his defense did in holding down the Hornets, especially in the first half.

“We stayed back quite a bit and we have some big feet to get the ball out,” he said. “Our goalie is pretty solid in the fundamentals. She asked the [defense] to stay back and they did, so we communicated well. We’ve come a long way, which is good.”

Easton’s Kendra Conroy kicked in a goal for the 0-7 Bears in the second half. Ashland’s defense kept striker Kassie Lovely from making any dangerous runs.

“Our defense is very strong and that’s what we pride ourselves in,” Cobb said. “We never have to worry very much.”

Ashland goalie Taylor Baker stopped four of the five shots she faced. Backup Debbie Beckler didn’t face any shots.