Bees win 10 straight

Seniors Jessica Grapensteter and Jessica Smith scored second half goals to lead Byron-Bergen to their tenth consecutive victory after dropping their first two games of the season.

Two minutes after a scoreless first half, the Bees' Jeannette Menzie crossed a ball from the right to Emily Starowitz in the middle, who found Grapensteter on the left side for a 1-0 lead.

Moments later, Kendall's Amanda Rockow took a free kick that the goalkeeper fumbled and Kaila Browe shot the rebound wide.

After B-B's Starowitz hit the crossbar with a shot, the Eagles' Browe tied the game after a long rush up the left wing and chipped the ball over the head of the keeper in the 55th minute.

Six minutes later, Starowitz was in the middle of the scoring opportunity again as she found Smith with a cross. The Bees leading goal scorer settled the ball and found the net for what would prove to be the game-winning goal.

With 18 minutes remaining, Kendall was awarded a free kick just above the box. Goalkeeper Jenny Cole came out of the net and her shot ticketed for the upper-left corner was tipped over the crossbar by Bees keeper Brianna Amesbury. The Eagles spent much of the last fifteen minutes of the game in the offensive zone, but could not get the equalizer.

"It was just a matter of hard work and the girl's believing in themselves," said Byron-Bergen head coach Greg Stanton of his team overcoming the loss of their first two games. "We are young in the midfield and we played two of the premier teams in the region so they were tough tests to start the year. I give full credit to the girls." Byron-Bergen is chasing undefeated Wheatland-Chili for the league title. The Bees will play them head-to-head in the final game of the regular season this Wednesday on the road. Kendall fell to 9-4 with the loss.

October 15, 2006