By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Changing its formation opened up the net for Bedford North Lawrence.
The Stars exploded for four second-half goals while rolling past Jennings County 5-1 on Thursday. Noah Childers recorded a hat trick as BNL (3-5-1) posted its first Hoosier Hills Conference triumph of the season.
“We changed up our formation to try and be more offensive,” BNL coach Ryan Otis said. “The drawback is it can leave us outnumbered in the midfield. In the first half, we struggled to possess in the midfield. In the second half, we were more direct and it paid off. The new formation is definitely still a work in progress but shows promise.”
Childers got BNL on the board in the first half, working a slick give-and-go with Ian Wilcher and cracking a shot into the left corner at 17:04. He got the Stars started quickly in the second, converting a penalty kick (after Saeben Arce was fouled in the box) at 39:26. He finished off the hat trick with a through-ball pass from Wilcher at 24:04.
BNL’s other goals came from Parker Beeson (a 30-yard rocket to the top right corner at 28:48) and Asher Arce (a header off Weston Holtz’s corner kick at 11:58).
”I’m happy with how hard everyone played,” Otis said. “The defense played well.”
Jennings (4-5 overall, 0-2 in the HHC) avoided the shutout with a rebound goal by Isaiah Thompson with 4:40 remaining.
The Stars (1-3 in the league) will host Edgewood on Monday.
