CENTERVILLE — The rain started to sprinkle late in the first half and evolved into a full-on downpour after halftime, but the Muncie Burris girls soccer team didn’t let that dampen their spirits.
“They have fun in the rain,” Burris coach Isidro Alvarado said. “They want to slide, but I say no.”
While the Owls didn’t do any sliding on the field at Centerville High School, they did do plenty of scoring. Burris defeated Union County, 9-0, in its IHSAA Class 1A sectional opener on Tuesday, Oct. 7, starting its quest for a fifth-straight sectional trophy on the right foot. The Owls were powered to victory by a trio of hat tricks from senior Sydney Jackson, junior Stella Beumer and senior Stella Venturi.
Jackson started the scoring about 20 minutes into the first half and assisted Beumer to put the Owls up 2-0 soon after. Beumer scored her second goal on a perfectly placed free kick that arched just over the fingertips of the Patriots’ goalkeeper, and Jackson found the back of the net for the second time to put the Owls up 4-0 with about five minutes remaining in the first half.
That duo picked up right where it left off after the break, with each one netting her third goal within the first six minutes of the second half. Alvarado made a lineup rotation, moving Venturi from outside into the center, and the senior made the most of the move by putting in three goals over the last half hour of action. Her third goal triggered the mercy rule with about four minutes left in regulation.
“I feel like we did a really good job distributing the ball,” Jackson said. “It wasn’t like one person doing all the work — we had three girls with hat tricks. I like that we were sharing the love. We were having a good time out there, and I think that really helps our team when we’re having fun.”
Jackson’s hat trick gave her 28 goals on the season, while her three assists gave her 67 total points, both of which surpassed her junior season output of 27 goals and 66 total points that ranked 13th and 14th, respectively, for Class 1A in 2024. The Owls’ all-time leading scorer (87 goals and counting) tipped her hat to Beumer and Venturi for opening up the offense throughout the season.
“I couldn’t deal without the Stellas,” Jackson said. “They’re two of my biggest distributors in how I score. They’re always there, always ready to play, and I love having them. They’re great influences on the team, nothing but great, positive people. I think I really couldn’t have as many goals or assists without them, they really helped me out a lot.”
Beumer, an Indiana Academy student who was previously at Chesterton High School, has enjoyed a breakout season playing alongside Jackson at forward. Her 23 goals on the season are more level with Jackson compared to last season, when the Owls’ second-leading scorer had 12 goals. Beumer hit her stride over the last few weeks with 11 goals in the Owls’ last six matches.
“I think playing with a new team has definitely changed things a bit for me, but they definitely helped me with all of my goals,” Beumer said. “I couldn’t have done it without them, just communicating with them and playing with them has been the highlight of my year.”
Muncie Burris will take on Centerville in the first semifinal match of Sectional 42 on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. at Centerville High School. The winner advances to Saturday’s final at 7 p.m.
Wapahani girls soccer falls to host Centerville
The other Delaware County team in Sectional 42 saw its season come to an end on Tuesday night. Wapahani was eliminated by host Centerville, 4-1. The weather cleared up in between matches, but another heavy downpour began as the Lady Raiders went down 2-0 in the first half.
Still, Wapahani managed to fight back into it in the second half when the weather cleared up. The sun was down by that point, but a rainbow was still seen in the form of a perfect free kick from junior Ellie Anderson that snuck right under the crossbar to cut the Bulldogs’ lead in half.
Unfortunately, the Lady Raiders couldn’t muster any more offense, and the Bulldogs eventually broke through with two more goals late in the match.
“These girls have been through it this season, a lot of adversity,” Wapahani coach Tanner Elrod said. “Their heart, their fight, they didn’t give up. If they were in the last 60 seconds, they’re still running through the whistle, playing through everything. So, I’m very, very proud of their effort and the heart they put in behind the entire season.”
Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@muncie.gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Trio of hat tricks powers Muncie Burris girls soccer to first-round sectional victory
Reporting by Cade Hampton, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
