By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The hungriest player on the field got a lot to eat.
Edgewood star Emma Edwards, one of the prolific scorers in the state, exploded in the first half while powering the Mustangs to a 4-0 victory over Bedford North Lawrence, spoiling Monday’s Senior Night celebration.
Edwards did all the damage, especially during a 6-minute spree that created plenty of separation. Her four-goal eruption pushed her season total to 24 goals as she caught the Stars (5-8-0) in letdown mode.
“After the second goal, we gave up a little bit,” BNL coach Bret Roberts said. “The effort was not great for about 10 minutes when they scored all those goals. We need to get our heads up and work even harder. We can’t get down, or that’s what’s going to happen. They keep scoring.”
Edwards was a force. She got started with a penalty kick at 25:10, but the key stretch began at the 11:59 mark when she made a great run from the right wing to find the net. Then at 9:16, she won a race for a long ball and deposited the ball in the goal. She capped the scoring at 6:06.
“It’s her willingness to go and get everything,” said Edgewood coach Brittany Tucker, whose club improved to 8-6-0. “She is goal hungry. We have players that are timid to shoot and get that goal, but every single time she wants the ball to score. She puts the team on her back.”
The Stars stopped the Edgewood offense in the second half, but could not generate any response.
“It would have been a different outcome if we had played the first half like we played the second,” Roberts said. “We proved we could hold them off without scoring those last 40 minutes.”
BNL honored seniors Sydney Hallatt and Britta Warren. Hallatt has been a solid defender for four seasons, while Warren (14 goals) has been a welcome offensive addition in her first year.
“They have made a huge impact on the program, with the quality of players they both are,” Roberts said. “It makes a big difference. It makes other people want to play when they see us scoring goals and seeing the quality of those two on the field.
“Sydney is a great leader, a great voice out there, She takes charge. I really wish we could have had Britta for more than one year. With the talent she has, she would have made a significant difference every year. She’s an incredible athlete.”
BNL will go on the road to finish the regular season, starting with a journey to Austin on Wednesday.
