Bellmont shuts out Jay County

Jay County’s girls soccer team wasn’t able to get many chances offensively against Bellmont.
The Squaws had plenty of opportunities, and they knew eventually they would score.
Bellmont netted three goals in the second half Thursday, beating Jay County 3-0.
“That was frustrating,” JCHS coach Giles Laux said of the few Patriot chances. “The girls played well, they really did. Bellmont is a very good team. Another night it could be us winning 3-0.”
But Thursday, the field was shifted in favor of Bellmont (4-2), and Jay County (3-5) had a difficult time gaining possession and then holding onto the ball.
Meanwhile, Bellmont junior Bailey Beery handled the midfield almost by herself, playing keep away from the Patriots with stellar footwork and precise passing, creating chances not only for herself but her teammates.
Bailey took three of her team’s 14 shots in the first half, though 11 of them missed the 8-foot by 24-foot goal.
“I think we had 40 shots on goal so hopefully something would find the back of the net,” said Bellmont coach Steve Lee. “At halftime we told them they needed to be more selective with their shots and make the extra passes to get the good one.
“Jay County did a good job of defending and rushing us to make those types of shots.”
The game was scoreless through the first 43 minutes until Bellmont sophomore Hannah Wellman beat Patriot goalkeeper Lilly Rogers 3:04 into the second half. Ashley Hamrick sent a cross to Wellman at the top of the penalty area, and Wellman then rifled a shot past a diving Rogers for the Squaws’ first goal.
Bellmont’s defense continued to prevent Jay County’s offense from getting anything going, and the Patriots weren’t able to get a shot over the course of the next 20 minutes.
“They had some great stops,” Laux said. “The girls hustled. We did not get out-hustled tonight. They were a step better at times than we were.”
Lee said defense is something his team has worked on over the last few weeks, adding that the first three games of the season were canceled because of weather so they’ve had some extra practice time.
“We’ve been focusing more on defense,” Lee said. “We’ve been staying compact and playing defense as a team.”
Bellmont’s defense disrupted Jay County’s forwards — Catherine Dunn, Gabbie Mann and a rotation of Stormi Canterbury and Carmen Lopez. The Patriot offense wasn’t able to get much going. Mann took the only three shots for the Patriots, two of which missed the net while the other was deflected away.
In the 66th minute, Wellman returned the favor for Hamrick.
From the right corner, Wellman crossed the ball into the penalty box to Hamrick, who was in front of the goal eight yards out, and sent a right-footed shot past Rogers into the left side of the net.
Rogers tallied 15 saves in goal for the Patriots.
Almost 10 minutes later, Hamrick notched her second assist when Beery’s shot inside the 18-yard box hit Rogers’ outstretched arm, deflected off the left post and into the net for a 3-0 Bellmont advantage.
“Bailey Beery is definitely our most creative player on the team,” Lee said. “She has good players around her to help her be creative.”
Beery worked the ball to her teammates all game, utilizing Ryann Velez, Hamrick and Wellman on the wings. But she was most dangerous in the middle of the field, changing direction with almost every possession to keep the plays going.
Laux tried to keep a steady rotation of players on her, but none were very successful.
Beery is also a cross country runner, and placed 16th in the state meet as a sophomore. She won both the sectional and regional races, and finished 15th at the New Haven semi-state.
The Patriots couldn’t keep up with her stamina on the pitch Thursday.
“We changed up, we put fresh legs on her and she did not wear out,” Laux said. “She’s in very good shape which is key for a soccer player. The girl just flat out plays.”
It was the second straight loss for Jay County after it fell 9-2 to Huntington North on Monday. Despite the defeat, Laux said he was happy with the way his team performed.
“They played probably better than they have since Norwell (a 4-2 defeat Sept. 4),” he said. “They played better today than they did against South Adams (a 12-0 victory Saturday).
“Our girls did a very good job. (Bellmont) just did a little bit better.”