HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Sophia Lobley knows how to put on a show.
Meanwhile, Emma Marroquin Ontiveros is equally adept at stopping one.
So together, Lobley and Ontiveros were show stoppers.
Lobley finished with seven goals – including three in North Hagerstown’s dynamic start – while Ontiveros dug in her heels in goal to shut down Smithsburg on Tuesday in the Hubs’ 16-3 victory.
North opened the door by scoring seven goals in the first five minutes of the game while Ontiveros did the dirty work, acting like a brick wall that prevented the Leopards any shot at coming back.
“We, as a team, would not be where we are if it wasn’t for Emma,” Lobley said. “As a goalie, especially this only being her second year, is phenomenal.”
Ontiveros’ 15 saves were in the shadows of North’s offensive output, but she was an able shadow of her own as a brick wall in goal. After all, she did put two saves to every Lobley goal.
“Our issue was making the goalie look really good – and she is really good,” said Smithsburg coach Allison Avey. “We just needed to move her, and we weren’t moving her.
“She did a phenomenal job. If it would have been a different goalie, I think it would have been a different score. Our girls just need to work on their confidence now. They showed a lot of aggression today that we don’t normally have, which is really good for them. I look forward to see how they can do it in the next couple games.”
Even with that early 6-0 lead, North was weary of the fact that all it would take is some momentum for Smithsburg to turn the tables and get back in the game. But Ontiveros took care of that in one extended sequence.
“We had a point in the game where, I want to say, four or five straight turnovers,” Lobley said. “They took five back-to-back shots, and Emma saw the ball every time and blocked it every single time. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better goalie.
“I think it’s just phenomenal. We would not be where we are without her.”
Both Lobley and Ontiveros gave credit to North’s success to practices that helped build a teamwork network. Lobley spoke on how she and is connected with teammate Sadie Morton when it comes to executing pick-and-roll plays with each in tune to what the other one will do.
Ontiveros gave a similar story for her part of success.
“A lot of times, my high defense helps with picking up the girls, and then low defense makes sure that anyone who’s behind me doesn’t get through,” she said. “Having that security of knowing my defense has me really helps me stay calm and collected.
“It reminds me to stay put wherever I am, because if I move too much, then that’s easier for them to shoot on me. That cushion of knowing that my girls have me is what helps me be a good goalie.”
All that defensive commotion leaves Ontiveros with clear looks at shots to make saves.
Lobley and the offense made it easier for Ontiveros and the defense … and vice versa.
It started with Morton rushing the Smithsburg net for the first score just 54 seconds into the game. It was followed by a similar effort and score by Emma Thomas at the 9:50 mark.
Lobley got her first goal, with another rush to the net, just seconds later, followed by Kylie Hollingsworth’s score at the 9:13 mark. Lobley popped in two more goals in the next one minute, 13 seconds to make it 6-0, causing Smithsburg to call timeout with 7:57 left in the quarter.
The Leopards come out of the timeout and scored in 49 seconds on a Lacey Sinsebox goal to make it 6-1. Thomas scored a second goal with 6:14 left to give North a 7-1 lead after one quarter.
The onslaught signaled a step ahead in North’s progression.
“It’s because of the way the girls work and win draws,” said North coach Rick Aleshire, “I’m always telling then to ‘Be patient, be patient, be patient.’ Here in the last couple games, we’ve won the ball and won on offense and we’ve become more patient.
“And they see now, just what will happen if you be patient.”
Sinsebox scored for Smithsburg to open the second quarter, while Delany Fuss answered for North for an 8-2 halftime lead.
North blew the lid off with five goals in the third quarter for a 13-2 lead on two by Emmalynn Nunes and Thomas along with another by Lobley.
Lobley scored North’s final three goals of the game in the fourth quarter, while Leah Hann bounced in a goal off a steal for Smithsburg to close out the scoring.
