Avon planned to get back in the win column after a 15-10 loss to Rocky River. In a home game against Riverside at Avon Middle School, the Eagles capitalized on a 6-0 opening run and 6-1 run at the end for a 17-8 bounceback win. “It was big for us to start so strongly,” Avon coach Ashleigh Hildre th said. “Being up, 6-0, to start the game, gave us a lot of energy and momentum. It kind of fizzled out in the middle of the game. Towards the end, we got that back.” Ashland commit Ayla Perez (two goals) scored first for Avon with 11:07 in the first and quickly stockpiled into a 6-0 lead. “That (goal) hyped everyone up,” Avon middie Ava Schaffer said. “With teammates hyping everyone up, it helps us on the field. We are pumped and it makes us catch better and go for the ground balls harder. Overall, we do better.” Five different players found the net in the first quarter to lead, 6-1. “I think that we are a very versatile team. Anybody can play anything. They work really hard. The fact that you can’t shut down one person is huge in games like this,” Hildreth said. The Schaffer sisters, Ella (four) and Ava (five), combined for nine of the Eagles’ goals. Ella Schaffer also recorded an assist. As uncommon as sisters recording hat tricks can be, they are used to it as the Schaffers had a standout performance against Rocky River. “We see each other and we know what we are going to do. Then we would do it,” Ava Schaffer said. They each scored in Avon’s 6-0 opening run. Ella Schaffer credited Hildreth for getting the team ready. “I feel like our passes were really good at the start from the 12-to-8 meters. Our shots and draws went really well, too,” Schaffer said. Avon also went on a 7-1 run in the game’s home stretch, which extended the lead from 10-7 in the third quarter to the 17-8 final score. Riverside cut the deficit to 5-3 in the second, as Emma West led the team with five goals. Most of Riverside’s goals came from free-position opportunities, but were unable to undo the first-quarter damage. “Sometimes, it takes our team a little bit of time to figure out how the opposing team is going to come out,” Riverside coach Rachel Victor said. “We like to take a look at their defense and their pace. That is something that we are continuing to work on.” Avon won its third game of its previous four matchups to improve to 3-2. The Eagles’ next game will be against Bay on April 8. Riverside dropped to 0-3 and will be in search of its first victory against Gilmour on April 7. THE SCORE Avon 17, Riverside 8 ...read more read less