The Hubbard and Girard girls soccer teams had their starters on the field, announcing them all as the hue of the sky above started to shade with pink and purple colors near twilight.

Hubbard coach Josh MacMillian enjoyed the view from field level, watching his Eagles started to provide some pressure of their own during a 2-0 Northeast-8 Conference victory over the Indians.

MacMillian said his team would’ve played 16 to 17 games during July and August, including showcases and scrimmages, before the first game in late August. The COVID-19 pandemic eliminated those preseason contests.

On Wednesday, the Hubbard coach found a variety of pieces to the Eagles’ win as his team added more moving parts to the 11-person roster on the field turf.

Staff photo / John Vargo
Girard’s Sam Duris, right, clears the ball as Whitney Hendrix of Hubbard closes ground during the Eagles’ 2-0 victory Wednesday in Girard.

“I think we moved the ball better than we have all year,” MacMillian said. “Now it’s trying to find out ways to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Hubbard did so after Amber Flynn found the right side of the net for a 2-0 lead with 13:42 left in the contest. It gave the Eagles a bit of breathing room as Hubbard started to exude some confidence during the remainder of the contest.

“I thought we were moving the ball well, making good decisions,” MacMillian said. “After so long you don’t put it in, kids get frustrated. That ball goes to the back of the net, that’s the reward. That makes you want to do it again. The big thing for us is to put a lot of chances in the back of the net so we can continue to have that uplifting moment with that pressure.”

Hubbard (2-3, 2-1 NE-8) had a free kick from the 10-yard line about 10 minutes into the game. The kick grazed the crossbar and came down to Girard goalkeeper Marina Cella, who had six saves.

Cella smothered an attempt from Hubbard’s Whitney Hendrix with 28 minutes before halftime.

The Eagles dominated the first half, rarely allowing Girard (2-3, 1-2) to get past midfield.

The Indians did push the tempo downfield with 21:57 remaining, but it ended in a goal kick.

Hubbard had a couple more attempts, but came away with nothing until 9:06 before intermission.

There was an illegal touch by the Hubbard keeper outside the box, leading to a close-range Girard free kick. Olivia Repasky delivered a shot toward the goal, but Kaitlyn Culver’s header went wide left.

There was some more back and forth prior to 1:10 before halftime as Cella couldn’t corral a save. Hubbard’s Kenna Reinard put the loose ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Cella, who started last year as a freshman, wasn’t deterred. She came back with 38:39 remaining, making a diving save as the ball trickled past the right post.

“She is so much more confident this season,” Girard coach Kayla Richey said of her sophomore keeper. “She’s killing it out there. We’re super proud of her.”

Girard’s aggressiveness started to frustrate Hubbard at times, leading to another scoring opportunity with 25:56 remaining as a free kick arched toward the goal. An incoming Indians player’s kick went wide right.

“When we pressure the ball, we make the other team make mistakes,” Richey said. “We took advantage of that.”