Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook
An early deficit for Hillcrest Academy soccer turned into a happy sendoff for the seniors in Kalona as the Ravens scored a 5-1 win over visiting Mediapolis. The Bulldogs struck first in the final 10 minutes of the half to take a 1-0 lead to intermission. Following halftime adjustments, the second 40 minutes belonged to the Ravens. Hillcrest equalized on a set piece with Isaac Birky finding Rowan Miller. In the 52nd minute the Ravens took the lead for good as Birky delivered his second dime of the night, setting up Angel Sambrano for the goal and Hillcrest didn’t look back. They added three more tallies over the final 25 minutes, one each from Jaxon Brokaw and Birky with a PK for Lincoln Miller.
The Ravens finished with nine shots on goal and four corners. Rowan and Lincoln Miller, Birky, Sambrano and Brokaw each found the back of the net once. Birky added two assists and Brokaw one. Garrett Bontrager made a pair of saves in the win. The Ravens honored four seniors during a ceremony including Rowan Miller, Isaac Birky, Lincoln Miller and Angel Sambrano. The win is the third in a row for the Ravens, who have outscored their opponents 18-1 during that stretch, to run their record to 5-7. Mediapolis is now 4-5-2.