By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Constant pressure paid dividends for Floyd Central.
The Highlanders kept Bedford North Lawrence contained to the defensive end, and wearing down was inevitable as Floyd powered to an 8-0 victory over the Stars on Tuesday.
After struggling to find the back of the net for the first 20 minutes, Floyd (2-2, 1-0 in the Hoosier Hills Conference) found the target three times late in the first half, then gradually pulled away. Bella Sternberg posted a hat trick, while the Stars could not generate a shot.
“It’s exhausting when you’re constantly playing defense,” BNL coach Bret Roberts said. “When we did have offensive opportunities, we didn’t have anyone up to help them. When it’s one against six girls, we don’t have much of a chance.”
Avery Conroy got Floyd on the board at 18:48 of the first half. Sternberg followed with a sharp goal off a wing cross from Blair Popp at 9:19, and Sternberg added her second score with 47 seconds left.
In the second half, the Highlanders broke through with goals from Cassie Oliver (38:16), Amelia Kami (32:37), Adyson Sprigler (a rebound at 10:16), Finley Poling (4:08) and Sternberg (47 seconds).
“We were playing beautiful soccer for a while, we just couldn’t finish,” Floyd coach Julie Deuser said. “The girls did a good job with the build-up, it was wonderful, but we couldn’t get it in. Once we got more comfortable, they started going in.
“We’re a great passing team, so our motive is spreading out the field, make it big, and pass around as much as we can, take the shots when we get them.”
BNL slipped to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the league.
”They kept their heads up,” Roberts said. “Some of those goals could have been avoided, but we did not give up.”
The Stars will host New Albany on Saturday.
