Blair High School soccer player Brynn Ray hadn't yet tallied a three-goal game during her senior season.
The Minnesota State recruit, however, was working hard for one Thursday against Class B No. 10 Gretna at Krantz Field.
“After I went two-up in the first half, I was really looking to get that third goal in that second half,” she said.
The forward succeeded and the No. 5 Bears (9-0 overall) won at home, 4-1. The three-goal victory kept their unbeaten season intact with the stiffest test of the campaign next on the schedule. Coach Nick Hall's team was set to play at No. 1 Gretna East on Monday.
First, though, BHS had to deal with the Griffin's neighbors and a stiff wind blowing through Washington County.
“We got the wind in the first half, which was really nice,” Ray said. “We got to take some long shots, lots of shots on frame. Our crosses, though, were very much impacted.”
The Bears were ultimately able to score three goals with the wind at their back, including the first by their senior forward less than 2 minutes in on an assist by Kaitlynn O'Neil.
From there, Blair freshman Cadence Field scored on a shot from left-to-right in the box during the 14th minute and Ray scored her second in the 26th.
“Luckily, in the second half, (the wind) died down,” the senior captain said. “So, they didn't get much of an opportunity with the wind, but we did.”
Still, Gretna did get a penalty kick chance during the second 40 minutes. With 23 still left on the clock, Briella Thompsen scored just the third goal Blair keeper Brooklyn Schroeter has allowed all season.
The Bears didn't let the Dragons get any closer, though. The defenders chased down and cleared the ball, and Schroeter knocked one opposing shot up and over the crossbar late.
“We just really had to stay back,” BHS defender Lindsey Moeller said when asked about playing on a windy night at Krantz Field. “(We had to) trust working as a team together and pressing the ball so they couldn't play those long balls.”
Altogether, the Bear thought her team played well on its back line.
“Overall I think we did good, but I definitely think there's places that we could have improved,” thre freshman explained.
Holding onto the 3-1 lead, Ray finally notched her third goal of the match during the 75th minute. She accomplished her hat trick as Blair earned its ninth-straight win to start the season.
BHS SOCCER LINE SCORE
Thursday
No. 5 Blair 4, No. 10 Gretna 1
GHS (2-5) 0 1 — 1
BHS (9-0) 3 1 — 4
Goals: Blair — Brynn Ray 3, Cadence Field 1. Gretna — Briella Thompsen 1. Winning goalkeeper: Brooklyn Schroeter.
