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STEUBENVILLE -- The Big Red girls soccer team celebrated senior night with a victory.
Gianna Thomas tallied a hat trick leading Big Red to a 4-2 victory against Columbiana on a warm Wednesday night on Reno Saccoccia Field inside Harding Stadium.
"I think our start was a little frantic," Big Red (6-8) head coach Annie Cutri said. "We did not know a lot about Columbiana. We have never played them since I have been here. I think the girls were a little nervous because they were not familair with them.
"Then in the second half of the first half, we started to connect and capitalize. We crashed in front of the net.
"We made a mistake, and they were able to score that goal on a penalty kick. We made some silly mistakes.
"We talked at halftime, and we talked about they were going to play the second half. They owned it. They came out and scored two more goals."
Maleea Crownover tallied the other goal for the Red-and-Black.
"Overall, I thought we started slow," Columbiana (6-6-2) head coach Jason Janis said. "We did not quite have the intensity we wanted. We battled. We came alive.
"We were playing a team a division higher than us. We knew it was going to be a challenge.
"They thought they were going to win because they scheduled us for Senior Night. This game will help us get ready for the playoffs."
Kenzy Petrelle and Ireland Marshall each collected an assist for the hosts.
Mady Thacker had a busy night in goal as she made 19 saves for the victors.
Ellie Venzia and Annah Clemmer each contributed a goal for the visitors. Venzia netted her goal in the first half, while Clemmer recorded hers in the second half.
"I just found out No. 25 (Clemmer) is a freshman," Cutri said. "She has a lot of speed. She is going to be a huge asset for them for the next three years.
"They did not give up. They kept trying to score. They played hard the entire time. They kept pressing to score."
Kyla Hogan made 11 saves in goal for the girls from Columbiana County.
"We knew it was going to be a physical game," Janis said. "Teams in Division II usually are physical. It was no surprise there. We kind of knew what to expect."
Big Red has two seniors – Layla Lombardo and Crownover – this season.
"They have meant a lot," Cutri said. "The two seniors have stepped up. They are leaders. They are like big sisters. They wanted to win this game. The team wanted to win this game for them. It meant a lot to them to have the other girls step up and win the game for them. We only have two seniors this season, and the girls came together for them."
Both teams are scheduled to play Saturday morning at home.
Big Red will take on Jefferson County rival Edison at 9 a.m. Saturday at the annual Together We Care Soccer Cancer Benefit at Harding Stadium. The match will be the first of four held on the day. The other matches feature the Indian Creek boys taking on Harrison Central at 11 a.m., the Indian Creek girls playing Catholic Central at 1 and then the Catholic Central boys will play Big Red at 3 p.m.
Columbiana is set to play Struthers at 10 a.m.