Great Season
For Lady Royals
By Monica Parshley

Alex Honkala, an exchange student at South Royalton High School, has been a potent scoring threat for the Lady Royals this season. (Herald / Joyce Hunt)

On Friday, Sept. 21, the South Royalton girls continued their 8-0 winning streak with a win at Rivendell, 7-1.

Shanna Duffy quickly gained a lead for SoRo, scoring with just 1:41 on the clock with an assist by Heather Burbine. The action died down for the next eight minutes until Alex Honkala scored with an assist from Duffy. That was the beginning of a hat trick for Honkala.

Heather Burbine carried South Royalton’s momentum and made a goal just two minutes later assisted by both Honkala and Duffy. Afterwards, both teams fought for control of the ball for 15 more minutes until Honkala scored once more for SoRo. At the end of the first half, Rivendell had a total of six shots on goal, while South Royalton had 11. SoRo was in the lead 4-0.

Rivendell seemed determined to come back in the second half. Number 10, Marie Wurtz, scored in just over a minute. However, the Lady Royals were just as determined to stay in the lead, and after a long fight between the two teams for control, Jackie Bowen managed to get a shot past. Megan Whitcomb and Heather Burbine also were able to make a goal before the end of the game.

Win at Poultney

South Royalton had another great game on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Poultney. The home team put up a good defense, with the teams only getting the chance for a handful of shots each. Jackie Bowen of SoRo broke through Poultney’s defense to score with only three minutes left in the first half.

It was clear during the second half that the Lady Royals weren’t satisfied with only one goal and about 10 minutes in, Honkala scored with an assist from Duffy. The team then continued to play hard. Honkala made another goal by heading it in after an assist from Heather Burbine. Burbine then made a goal of her own, hitting it off her stomach past the goalie with an assist by Julia Collins. South Royalton won, 4-0.

Tie Game

The SoRo girls finally met their match on Saturday, Sept. 29, in a game at home against rival Thetford. Neither team seemed able to get a break from the other, although both did manage to make a few shots on goal.

At the end of the first half, the score was tied at 0-0. SoRo had shot nine times to Thetford’s two.

The second half was a repeat of the first; once again the two teams struggled valiantly for control but had difficulties breaking through their opponents’ formidable defenses. The second half drew to a close without a goal on either side. The game went into overtime and then double overtime before it became clear that neither team would come out victorious.

In the end, South Royalton shot a total of 22 times. Burbine led with five shots, followed closely by Honkala with four. Thetford made six shots on goal, Hazel Wood led with three. Goalie Logan Russell saved five goals while Thetford’s Amanda Brown was in top form, saving 15.

SoRo’s next game is Saturday, Oct. 6, at Northfield. As of the 29^th, their record is 10-0-1.