By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Tuesday evening it was an intense opener for both the Bellefonte and Mifflin County boys lacrosse team as both opened their season in a nail biting contest.

But in the end, it would be the Red Raiders that survived to notch the opening day 9-7 win.

“This is the first time we’ve had seniors. We’ve graduated two or three kids a year and it’s really nice to have a senior class that’s been around for a while,” said Bellefonte coach Rick Johnson. “The kids have been working really hard.”

Bellefonte’s Ryder Hamilton notched a double hat trick finishing with seven goals.

Also picking up a hat trick was Mifflin County’s Nathan Parkes.

“We definitely don’t give up, that’s for sure,” said Mifflin County coach Brett Rogers. “We just need to get a little more in the back of the net and we’ll even up there pretty quick. It certainly wasn’t for lack of effort. Maybe we’ll just have game plan a little better for next time.”

Early in the first and Mifflin County playing one man down. The Huskies defense was able to stop the first surge of pressure despite not being at full strength.

The defense forced the first Bellefonte shot to go wide.

Back to full force, Red Raiders shots continued to be wide and the Huskies goalie Jamison Parkes was able to notch a save.

However at 8:30, Hamilton started his offensive of attack notching a goal off of a Nate Cherinka assist, 1-0 on the breakaway goal.

Less than a minute later, Bellefonte had its second goal at 7:40. It would be Hamilton again finding a seam in the Huskies defense and posted an unassisted second goal.

But the Huskies would have its chances and make the most of it, especially in the first half.

The Huskies finally got on the board at the 6:24 mark of the opening period when Dodger Weaver it 2-1 thanks to an assist by Dan Rogers at 6:24.

Less than a minute later,  Rogers called his own number hitting a goal at 5:54 tying things up at 2-2.

The MC defense clamped down keeping the Red Raiders outside the circle keeping them to limited penetration for the rest of the first.

Bellefonte tried to take advantage of the Huskies being a player down in the last minute of play in the first quarter. But the Huskies defense held, sending things into the second tied at two.

In the second quarter, Mifflin County started out with a breakaway shot attempt by Kaden Miller, only to have it stopped by Red Raiders goalie Austin Smith. Smith finished with 13 saves on the night.

Bellefonte’s first possession they pressured the MIfflin County backline.

At 8:01, Bellefonte’s Nate Cherinka scored on an unassisted goal of his own, making it 3-2.

With a man down, MC looked to keep the Red Raiders off the board.

However, Hamilton had other ideas posting a hat trick at 4:27.

But a fancy spin move by Nathan Parkes scored a Huskies goal at 3:21, cutting it to 4-3 Red Raiders lead.

Just seconds later, Nathan Parkes hit the hat trick with a scorching blast at 3:08, tying it at four. The goal forced Bellefonte to call a time out also at 3:08.

After the Red Raiders regrouped out of the time out, Hamilton got on the board once again with 1:51 left in the half. Hamilton’s blast came from behind the circle, ending the first half scoring at 5-4.

Bellefonte tried to extend its lead into the second half.

Mifflin County started things off as they took the ball down but was stopped after two saves by Bellefonte goalie.

The Red Raiders first touch had them eyeing up another goal opportunity but MIfflin County temporarily stopped the Red Raiders.

But after a MIfflin County turnover Hamilton was back at it again.

At 7:33, Hamilton scored another unassisted goal again, upping the lead to 6-4.

Less than a Minute later Hamilton he also found net, this time it was at 6:49. With that goal he had scored his 6th goal, making it a 7-4 contest.

Hamilton tickled the twine seconds later as he hit a 5:50 goal, upping it to an 8-4 Bellefonte advantage.

But you can’t ever count out the Huskies as Trey Smith found an opening and got it to Weaver. Weaver found nothing but net on the MIfflin County goal at 5:29, cutting it to an 8-5 score.

Weaver brought the Huskies even closer as he posted another goal at 5:02, cutting the lead to two at 8-6.

Bellefonte’s Nate Benner made the Red Raiders notch the last score of the third getting the ball to Cherinka for the goal upping the lead to 9-6.

In the final stanza, both teams defense withstood the pressure and was able to keep the others off the board ending the contest at 9-7 in favor of the Red Raiders.

The only goal of the fourth came from Nathan Parkes at 11:40 finishing the scoring at 9-7.

Bellefonte  9, Mifflin County 7

MC 2 2 2 1 –  7

BE  2 3 4 0 – 9

Scoring

BE – Ryder Hamilton from Nate Cherinka, 8:30.

BE – Hamilton unassisted, 7:40.

MC – Dodger Weaver from Dan Rogers, 6:24.

MC – Rogers unassisted, 5:54.

Second quarter

BE – Nate Cherinka unassisted, 8:01.

BE – Hamilton unassisted, 4:27.

MC – Nathan Parkes unassisted, 3:21.

MC – Nathan Parkes unassisted, 3:08.

BE – Hamilton unassisted, 1:51.

Third quarter

BE – Hamilton unassisted, 7:33.

BE – Hamilton unassisted, 6:49.

BE – Hamilton unassisted,  5:50.

MC – Weaver from Trey Smith, 5:29.

MC – Weaver unassisted, 5:02.

BE – Cherinka from Nate Benner, 3:16.

Fourth quarter

MC – Nathan Parkes unassisted, 11:40.

Shots on goal: MC – 22, Belle-29

Saves: Jamison Parkes (MC) 17,

Austin Smith (BEL) 13.