- December 20, 2024
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FPC's Ivy Chen (10) attempts to block Mainland midfielder Jacqueline Methot's (12) kick at the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC's Kaitlyn Steiner (23) makes her way toward the goal with Mainland's Kaitlin Barba in hot pursuit at the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland midfielder Hannah Tucker (17) juggles the ball against FPC's Eva Sites (16) during their first game of the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland midfielder Hannah Tucker (17) moves the ball down field as FPC's Eva Sites (16) challenges during their first game of the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC's Sunny Wolff and Mainland midfielder Gabriela Martinez collide as they go for the ball in the teams' first game at the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC's Sunny Wolff and Mainland midfielder Gabriela Martinez collide as they go for the ball in the teams' first game at the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC forward Lauralee Macleod and Mainland midfielder Jacqueline Methot sprint toward the ball during their first game at the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC's Kaitlyn Steiner (23) shoots on goal at the 5 Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC freshman Hailey Sammons (17) snags a hat trick in the 8-0 shut out against Mainland at the Five Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC freshman Hailey Sammons (17) snags a hat trick in the 8-0 shut out against Mainland at the Five Star soccer tournament. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC players--Ivy Chen (10), Heidi Michaels (13), Isabella Kummernes (8) and Nichole Dickinson--sit the bench during the game against Mainland. Photo by Michele Meyers
Hailey Sammons knew she was joining the Flagler Palm Coast girls soccer program as a member of a strong freshman class. But she didn’t realize how strong it is.
The freshmen scored seven of FPC’s eight goals in the Bulldogs’ 8-0 victory over Mainland in a Five Star Conference quarterfinal on Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
Sammons scored three of the goals for her first hat trick.
“I knew we had a good freshman group, but I didn’t expect we’d all go to varsity, but I’m happy we did,” she said.
FPC (10-8-1) was scheduled to play New Smyrna Beach in a conference semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at the Ormond Sports Complex.
Four of FPC’s eight varsity freshmen play up front. Sammons normally is a marking back, but she was moved up to holding midfielder for this game.
The freshmen have given coach Pete Hald the luxury of being able to move players around.
“That’s the thing about this team,” he said. “The five or six or seven players that are on the bench could start too. There are a couple that are definite starters, but I’m comfortable making changes.”
Two other freshmen, Ivy Chen and Katherine Ouellette, scored two goals apiece. Junior Erin Hughes scored the first goal of the game.
Senior co-captain Savannah O’Grady, who played in only nine games before suffering a season-ending knee injury, still leads the team with 11 goals, but four other players have six or more goals, including Chen with nine and fellow freshman Lauralee Macleod with six. Seniors Heidi Michaels and Kaitlyn Steiner also have six goals.
“Savannah talked to us,” Sammons said. “We realize we have to step it up to not disappoint the seniors.”
Hald moved Chen from offensive mid to forward in the second half because the Bulldogs weren’t converting enough of their chances. Chen responded with two shots on frame.
Sammons scored the final three goals including a header off a corner kick and a shot from the corner of the box that ended the game with the mercy rule.
“Ivy kind of got us going in the second half, and then I just rotated in players every 10 minutes,” Hald said. “Some players played some different positions today.”
