CANNONSBURG —
It’d be easy to chalk up Ashley Huffine’s performance as the primary reason for Russell’s 6-0 blowout win on Tuesday.
As easy as one, two, three, in fact.
However, her hat trick against Boyd County pales in comparison to what is truly driving her team to success in her eyes.
“Last year, we weren’t much of a team,” said the senior. “We’re trying to get closer together, bonding. It’s about trying not to get frustrated at your teammates. This year we’re really close and that’s helped us a lot.”
A fortuitous first goal was helpful at Boyd County Soccer Complex as the Lady Devils found the net early. They did the same in a 4-3 District 63 win over Ashland last Tuesday.
Just minutes in, Heather Hencye laced a corner kick off the hands of an inexperienced Boyd County goalkeeper and into the net.
Luck was again a Boyd County enemy later in the half, as a Jennifer Sloan boot from near midfield bounced over Tatum Brumfield into the goal.
Emily Stewart, normally the Lady Lions’ keeper, recently injured her wrist. The three-sport senior — she is also the basketball team’s point guard and a softball standout — is currently awaiting MRI results from a Tuesday test.
While recovering, Stewart has played several positions. She nearly netted what would have been her team’s lone goal, but the try struck the crossbar.
“She’s been playing pretty much everywhere on the field,” said Boyd County first-year coach Nicholas Skaggs. “She’s one of the fastest sprinters I’ve ever seen.”
Her second game of absence from her usual spot was undoubtedly a factor in Tuesday’s contest, but Skaggs gave credit to Brumfield for having stepped up to the challenge.
What deterred Boyd County (4-3) more against Russell than in any other game during a solid start to the season was its mental approach, said its coach.
“Mostly it’s just a mental game in our heads because we have the ability,” Skaggs said. “We’ve got a giant hurdle to overcome with those who have beat (us) in the past with East Carter, Russell ... ”
Russell (4-1) hasn’t lost to the Lady Lions since at least 2001, according to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s website.
Huffine, battling through a quad injury suffered last week against Ashland, gave credit to Hollie Hencye on the goal that made it 2-0. Hencye “laid it out in front of” Huffine, in the pass-beneficiary’s words, and got the assist.
Huffine expanded the lead to 4-0 on a right-side breakaway that resulted in her drilling one into the top of the net.
She polished off the hat trick after recovering a loose ball after a collision of teammate Shelby Huddleston and Brumfield.
Russell led 5-0 at halftime.
Lady Devils coach Joe Grizzle said Huffine, who has six goals on the season, has exhibited fantastic leadership for his team to follow.
“She’s putting a pretty good example out on the field and that, to me, is what a leader does,” Grizzle said. “She’s out there giving 100 percent and she’s hobbled with the quad. It doesn’t matter if it’s practice or a game. That’s contagious. The team feeds off that.”
Skaggs raved about Russell’s speed.
“We’re not used to not being the fastest team on the field,” Skaggs said.
Grizzle showered praise on his midfielders, including Lexie Frisby and Brooke Fowler.
“We’re trying to get our center-mids into the game instead of having to play defense 70 to 80 percent of the game,” Grizzle said. “They were looking up and making plays.”
Boyd County rarely ventured past the center stripe in the second half, but Russell managed just one more goal.
Emily Stump notched her first goal as a Lady Devil to make it 6-0.
AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.
Local Sports
Russell coming together
Huffine has hat trick in 6-0 win
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