by Shelby Powers

Thursday, October 10, the Bellbrook Girls’ Varsity Soccer squad took on Brookville in their last home SWBL game of the season and celebrated Senior Night. The stadium was embellished with picture collages of the seven senior girls, their names written in styrofoam cups on the fence, and their senior posters.

Before the game, the seniors each walked across the field accompanied by their parents and siblings, receiving flowers and hugs from their underclassmen teammates and coaches while their pre-recorded senior speeches blared from the loudspeakers.  The seniors, Emilea Allen, Kara Eckley, Alex Hofacker, Madi Pittman, Shelby Powers, Caitlin Umina, and Theresa Wimer, were emotional, as many of them have played soccer together for nearly ten years at the club level.

The game started at 7:00, and Brookville took a quick lead with two unexpected goals getting past Bellbrook’s senior keeper Madi Pittman and her defense in the first ten minutes. However, in the second half, the Eagles took back the game with a goals from junior Monica Hennen, senior Shelby Powers, senior Emilea Allen, and sophomore Hana Midtlien. Coach Doug Wampler took the seven seniors out of the game together with five minutes left in the second half, signifying the end of their high school soccer careers, true to the team’s annual tradition.

Following the 5-2 victory, the players, their families, friends, and fans celebrated with refreshments in the locker room and watched a slide show of pictures taken by a parent volunteer throughout the season.

The Lady Eagles’ next game marks the start of their State Tournament run. They played the Franklin Wildcats at home Thursday, October 17.