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PARMA, OH – The 1-5 Padua Bruins played their most complete game of the season today in convincing fashion over the visiting Lakewood Rangers by a score of 9-2. They were led by juniors Ava Bonfili and Sophia Kucera who both had hat tricks. Also scoring was freshman Maddie Royer, along with senior Mackenzie Minute and junior Lexi Bryan.
The Bruins have faced a buzzsaw schedule to start their season regarding incredible competition and ridiculously bad weather. Today however, was a perfect storm as the Bruins put it all together for their first win of the 2024 campaign. They got everyone involved and made precision passing turn into effective scoring.
Following a scoreless opening quarter, Maddie Royer got the Bruins off to a hot start in the second quarter with a goal early into the action. It came via a reset as she was the first to chase down the loose ball. She then attacked from the right side of the goal, coming in at the perfect angle for an overhand shot that pierced the net, allowing the Bruins to take the early lead. The Ranger defense was frozen as Royer made magic happen to score! She had a big afternoon as Royer not only had a goal, but also four assists as the freshman seems to be finding her stride.
After a Lou El Ador Lakewood Ranger goal tied it at 1, the Bruins answered back with a free possession goal from Lexi Bryan. It was a great job of perseverance as her initial free possession was blocked, she was then awarded another one, in which she cashed in on.
The Bruins tacked on another goal in the closing moments of the second half when Royer found an open Ava Bonfili cutting to the net to score. It was superb field vision by Royer to find Bonfili as the Rangers let down their guard in the closing seconds, and the Bruins remained hungry and on the attack, which led to points!
The Bruins started the second half red hot, scoring on the opening possession as they won the face off and then found Ava Bonfili in the center of the field to streak in for the goal. Ava went top shelve and made it count for the point. This quick strike increased the Bruins lead to 4-1 just 12 seconds into the half.
A few moments following that goal, Bonfili struck again and this time it was a thing of beauty. She cut from behind the net into the teeth of the Ranger defense, and as they converged on her she had her back to the goal when she placed a perfect back hand past the goalkeeper. She literally flicked it low and right past the ankles of the defender for the score. Thus, improving the Bruin lead to 5-1.
It wasn’t much longer after that when Sophia Kucera joined the scoring spree with one of her own to improve the Padua advantage to 6-1. Kucera cut from the top left of the Bruin attack to get the pass and bounce one in for the score.
The trend to start a quarter with a goal for the Bruins continued to open up the fourth. This time it was a free possession goal from Mackenzie Minute to put things out of a reach as the Bruins took a stranglehold 7-1 lead. The Bruins went on to win comfortably 9-2 as they received another two goals from Kucera. The Rangers final goal came from Lilly Benjamin.
The Bruins will look to stay hot this Monday night as they host Magnificat at 7pm.
