By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Blasting off!

The Bellefonte girls soccer team scored early in the first and second periods and used its defense to close in and stifle Penn Cambria’s offense en route to a 4-0 shut out Tuesday night at Rogers Stadium.

Playing in the first game of a soccer double header, the Red Raiders came out pumped and playing inspired ball.

For most of the contest, the Lady Raiders were able to cut the field in half, putting the pressure on the Panthers’ defense and limiting Penn Cambria’s breakaway attempts.

Bellefonte outshot Penn Cambria 18-5. They also had the advantage in corner opportunities by a 3-0 margin.

“We got to get a lot of girls in tonight. We girls that were able to see the field tonight. That’s a plus because we only have three JV game scheduled for the entire season. Our goal was to get them some minutes and we were able to that tonight ,” said Bellefonte coach Stacey Miller. “

Bellefonte came out swarming to the ball, instantly pushing the ball down into the Panthers back-line.

Less than four minutes in Laila Packer broke loose and blasted an unassisted goal at 36:04.

Less than a minute later, teammate Brooke Whitman found nothing but net as she blasted her shot putting the Lady Raiders ahead by two goals at the 35:19 mark.

“We always talk about when we go up quickly that’s huge and that helps you and pays off for you later,” said Miller. “I’m proud of them to get those two goals in quickly at the beginning.”

With a two goal cushion, the Raiders were able to control the momentum closing the field size and holding the Panthers from getting any kind of drive going in the half.

Things started the same way in the second.

This time it was Norah Davis that got her name in the scorebook as she blistered a shot that tickled the twine, making it a 3-goal contest.

She also finished off the scoring as Davis picked up an unassisted, goal at 18:57.

From there it was all the defensive that held a Penn Cambria in check and securing the 4-0 win.

Bellefonte travels to Bedford Thursday.

Bellefonte 4 , Penns Cambria 0

PC.    0 0 – 0

BE      2 2 – 4

First half scoring:

BE – Laila Packer unassisted, 36:04

BE – Brooke Whiteman unassisted, 35:19.

Second half

BE – Norah Davis from Brooke Whitman, 37:06.

BE – Davis unassisted, 18:57.

Shots on goal : PC –     5. BE – 18.

Corners: PC –     0. BE –    3.

Saves: PC Bethany Watt   6, BE – Ronnie Spotts 3.