Two talented Rookie girls teams took the floor Saturday at Holcom Park Center for a close match that went right down to the wire. The Hornets and All-Star Jayhawks traded goals all game until a late two-goal spurt helped the Hornets hold on for a 6-5 victory.

Jaycee Mountain and Christina Craig led the Hornets, scoring five of the six goals. Mountain netted three goals, scoring the first two of the match, then added one in the second half to tie the game and complete the hat trick.

Craig added two goals of her own and often led the attack.

Both girls enjoyed scoring and helping their team.

“It felt good to score all those goals,” Mountain said.

Mountain started the scoring with a huge boot from near midcourt just after the kickoff to begin the second quarter. With just enough strength to get it down the court, the ball snuck past the All-Star Jayhawk goalkeeper and into the net. While the Hornets celebrated, the Jayhawks gathered themselves for a counter attack and succeeded with getting the ball to an open Emily Venters, who put the ball in the net to tie the game at one goal apiece.

Not to be outdone, the Hornets duo of Mountain and Craig scored the next two goals to give their team a 3-1 lead. After a few scoreless minutes the offensive battle looked to be settling down, but Jayhawk Peyton Brown put an end to that, scoring just before the half to bring her team back to within one goal of the Hornets.

Hornet forward Christina Craig dribbles around All-Star Jayhawk defenders Daisha Austin and Savannah Fergus during the first half. Craig scored two goals in the Jayhawks 6-5 win Saturday at Holcom Park Center.

That goal proved to be the catalyst for the Hawks as they ran off a three goals in a row to take their first lead of the game, 4-3. The whole team contributed as Jayce McKinney and Savannah Fergus pushed the ball, sparking scoring runs. Daisha Austin added a goal during the run, her first of the game, before tending the net for the final quarter of the game.

When asked what position she liked better, goalkeeper or forward, Austin said she liked forward best because she likes “running around”.

After tying the game with her third goal of the game, Mountain and the Hornets fed off each other’s energy and added two more goals to go back on top 6-4. But the Jayhawks never gave up. They clamped down on defense, with Austin making great saves in the final few minutes. Venters scored her second goal to bring her team within one, but that was as close as they would get as the Hornets escaped with the victory.