TRENTON — The ball bounced across the face of goal for what must have seemed like an eternity, waiting for somebody, anybody to stick a toe on it and knock it across the line for the equalizing goal. But when you’ve now lost 176 straight Colonial Valley Conference games those seem to always go against you. It’s not for a lack of effort. Certainly not on Tuesday afternoon when the Trenton High girls soccer team led twice in the first half before Hamilton West eventually came away with a 4-2 victory in a Valley Division game. “Every CVC game is a tough matchup,” said Tornadoes coach Dana Jeter. “We prepared well for this. Hamilton is good competition and I think the rivalry pumps us up. We wanted our first CVC win. Hamilton wanted to get its first CVC win.” Lemia-Tacora Brown-Johnson and Zunica Zubah both scored in the first half as the Tornadoes (0-6) went in front twice before the Hornets (2-6) struck back quickly on both occasions; first through Kyara Castro Gamboa from the spot and then Sierra Latham on a free kick. Ava Riley put Hamilton in front four minutes before halftime. What may not have seemed like a great game on paper — the teams were a combined 1-11 — turned into quite the thriller. The Tornadoes nearly scored on that bouncing ball across the goalmouth and Gabriella Smith had two chances after that. First she sent a shot inches over the crossbar and then forced a nice save out of Hornets goalkeeper Carissa Scelza with 11 minutes left. Each one brought a louder groan from the pumped up Trenton bench. “Not heartbreaking,” senior defender Sonjay Baylor said of the oh-so-close misses. “it was enraging.” The Hornets wrapped up the points with two minutes remaining when Castro Gamboa raced on to a long punt from Scelza and scored past Trenton goalkeeper Oliva Darden, who had a number of good saves to keep her side in it. Trenton was trying to snap a 21-game losing streak that dates back to the 2022 season and a CVC drought that goes all the way back to 2010. The last time the Tornadoes didn’t lose a CVC match was a 1-1 draw against Lawrence on Sept. 25, 2010 (that was actually the second of consecutive ties in a week after they finished 2-2 with Ewing). There have been some close calls along the way. A 3-1 loss to Hamilton last year and few 1-0 setback against both Hamilton and Ewing over the years. “We seemed to be on the same level,” Baylor said. “I believe we have the possibility to win each game we play.” It’s that positive attitude that keeps the Tornadoes going. Hamilton West (2-6) 3 1 — 4 Trenton (0-6) 2 0 — 2 Goals: Castro Gamboa 2, Riley, Latham (HW). Brown-Johnson, Zubah (TCHS). Assists: Castro Gamboa, Scelza (HW). Flores (TCHS). Shots: 26 (HW). 9 (TCHS). Saves: Scelza 6 (HW). Darden 20 (TCHS).