Youth serves St. Edward

If Tuesday’s season-opener is any indication, the future looks pretty bright for St. Edward’s girls soccer team.

Freshmen accounted for 4 goals as the Green Wave downed Elgin Academy 5-1 at Greg True Field.

Megan Kearney scored 3 goals, fellow frosh Chelsea Gnan scored one and sophomore Corey Lepoudre added another in the season opener for both teams.

Ashley Barnes scored for the Hilltoppers.

“It was a nice welcoming to the class of 2016 with 4 goals by my freshmen,” said St. Edward coach Tim Brieger. “All the goals were by freshmen and sophomores, which is always a good thing.”

Kearney and Gnan got the Wave on top early. Kearney scored on a tap-in on an open net. Gnan added a goal minutes later.

The Wave added two more just before intermission. Lepoudre scored on a long line drive that landed just inside the right upright. Shortly thereafter, Kearney scored her second off a nice centering pass from Kimmy Smith.

The Hilltoppers, still adjusting to a new formation, were more “organized” defensively in the second half, playing the Wave to a draw after the break.

Kearney did add her third goal, poking in a rebound late in the game. Then Barnes got Elgin Academy on the board with her first goal of the year.

“It was good for her to get her first goal of the season under her belt,” said Hilltoppers coach Shannon Walter. “That’s usually the hardest one, and then they seem to come like a waterfall after that.”

Otherwise, it was a leisurely day for Wave goalkeeper Paige Gannon, who didn’t need to make a save.