LA GRANGE — La Grange found the net a bunch of times Jan. 2 at Leopards Stadium as the girls soccer team shutout Wharton High School by a final score of 3-0.
The offense was in full force throughout the majority of the game and the Lady Leps were able to capitalize by putting the ball on goal.
“We are getting more comfort - able with each other every single day,” said La Grange head girls soccer coach Lauren Hubbert.
“I have been blessed with a really great group of girls. They all get along really, really well. The team chemistry is probably the best that it’s been in a cou - ple years and I’m so excited. We like to facilitate a good, positive atmosphere amongst everybody.
We’re doing dress up days, we’re doing team activities together.
Team bonding is so important and that’s not something that they’ve had in the past. That’s really where a lot of our suc - cess has come from, being able to get together, be comfortable with each other, building those relationships. It’s evident that we are really getting more comfort - able with each other. We’ve been working on a lot of connection plays. Being able to play to feet, passing with purpose, things like that. They’re getting it.”
Lady Leps junior forward Natalie Orona scored the game-sealing goal on a mid-air
shoe-in from a corner kick in the final two minutes to ensure her team the victory. “I was freaking out,” Orona said on her goal. “I didn’t know I was gonna make that. I was just freaking out. It was crazy that I made it.” La Grange scored their first goal at the 14:24 mark in the first half on a ball that was deflected by Wharton in their own goal to make it 1-0 in favor of the Lady Leps. About a minute later, Ellie Sodolak launched a rocket from about the 20-yard line that put the purple and gold ahead 2-0. After a two-goal lead at half time, Orona’s goal in crunch time secured a sure victory for La Grange at 3-0.
