Advertisement

Ava Streb helps Hoover girls lacrosse team continue hot start with win over Hathaway Brown

cliff hickman, canton repository
·2 min read

NORTH CANTON — The Hoover girls lacrosse team faced a big test Thursday. The Vikings passed with flying colors.

Hoover continued its hot start with perhaps its biggest win of the year to date. The host Vikings defeated Hathaway Brown in impressive fashion, 9-4.

"We are feeling really good right now," Hoover senior attacker Ava Streb said. "This is probably the best team that we have played all season. To come out and not only win but win by five goals gives us a lot of confidence."

Hoover's Ava Streb shoots for a goal in the first half against Hathaway Brown at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Hoover's Ava Streb shoots for a goal in the first half against Hathaway Brown at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Streb was a big part of the victory against a 7-3 Hathaway Brown team. She scored three goals for the Vikings (9-1). Stella Somers and Kim Otte added two goals each for Hoover. Madi Vardavas and Camryn Cooney scored one goal each.

"It really was a team win tonight," Streb said. "We played well in all phases. Our defense played really hard and really limited their offense over long stretches. Our offense stayed patient and really took advantage of the opportunities that were presented to us. Everything came together for us tonight."

Streb has been a reliable scoring option all season for a Hoover team that is playing under a new coaching staff this season.

Hoover's Ava Streb brings the ball down field in the first half against a host of Hathaway Brown defenders at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Hoover's Ava Streb brings the ball down field in the first half against a host of Hathaway Brown defenders at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.

"Ava has been incredible for us," Hoover coach Morgan Murphy said. "She is a great communicator and a terrific leader. She's one of those players that we are sad we are going to be losing. That's the type of player you'd love to have with you for multiple years."

Murphy credits the close-knit nature of this group of Hoover players for the strong start to the season.

Hoover's Stella Somers scores in the first half with pressure from Hathaway Brown's Veronica Santelli in the first half at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Hoover's Stella Somers scores in the first half with pressure from Hathaway Brown's Veronica Santelli in the first half at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.

"These are kids that have a lot of passion," Murphy said. "They work together really well and they have a lot of experience playing together. Some of these seniors have been playing together for nine years. It's hard not to feed off the energy the kids bring to every practice and every game as part of a new coaching staff."

Hoover's Kim Otte brings the ball down field in the first half against Hathaway Brown at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Hoover's Kim Otte brings the ball down field in the first half against Hathaway Brown at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Hoover is hoping that passion continues to result in wins as the Vikings push toward the postseason in the coming weeks.

"It's simultaneously sad and hard to believe that it is my senior season," Streb said. "It's been just a great experience so far and I can't wait to see how the rest of the year unfolds. We just need to focus and keep pushing. This is a group that isn't going to give up so I can't wait to see how we do when the tournament arrives."

Reach Cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com

On X: @chickmanREP

Hoover's Lauren West, left, fights for the ball against Hathaway Brown's Faith Farenmouth in the first half at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Hoover's Lauren West, left, fights for the ball against Hathaway Brown's Faith Farenmouth in the first half at Hoover Thursday, April 25, 2024.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ava Streb leads Hoover girls lacrosse team to win over Hathaway Brown