Girls soccer: Larkin dominates Belvidere

Larkin's girls soccer team is developing a knack for scoring in bunches.

Elizabeth Baeza, Kelly Leon and Miriam Rojas scored 2 goals each as the Royals stayed undefeated on the season with an 8-1 nonconference rout of Belvidere at Memorial Field in Elgin Monday night.

Ariana King added 2 assists.

The Royals started slowly, getting only a goal from King in the first 30 minutes. But when Rojas scored her first goal, off a King assist, in the 28th minute, it seemed to open the floodgates.

Rosemary Arvizu and Baeza found the net in rapid succession and the rout was on.

"We started really slow and lethargic," said Larkin coach Ken Hall. "We played two games on Saturday and a game on Friday and it just seemed like we didn't have our legs a little bit. But it started going and then we played a little bit better. In the second half, we possessed the ball a little bit better, made better decisions."

Rather than relax after intermission, the Royals kept the pressure on. Leon scored just 40 seconds into the second half, and goals by Baeza and a second by Leon followed in close succession.

Rojas scored her second in the final minute.

The Royals, who won their fifth straight to start the season, have been getting offensive contributions from throughout the lineup.

"We're playing more like a team this year," Hall said. "At times I think we almost pass the ball too much. We're a lot more team-oriented this year, and I'm really liking the way we've been playing so far."

The Royals' defense was solid as well: the Bucs mustered just 3 shots on goal.

Belvidere did put 3 balls in the net. Yamitssa Andrade put a ball in the net at the end of the first half, but it came just after the horn. Luzia Hernandez had a goal but was clearly offside. Alondra Murillo finally got one that counted on a free kick with 2:43 remaining, spoiling the shutout for the Royals.