Beck, Tobin Each Record Hattricks – Griffins Shutout Alton in Season-Opener

BELLEVILLE – The Father McGivney Griffins and Alton Redbirds opened their girls soccer seasons on Wednesday under the lights at Althoff High School in the annual Metro Cup.

McGivney opened its campaign with a commanding 7-0 win. The dynamic offensive duo of Layla Tobin and Natalie Beck netted a hattrick each. Claire Wade scored the seventh and final goal.

But scoring goals was never going to be a problem this season for the Griffins.

“You lose four of your back five from last year, and some key, key pieces,” new head coach Jason Turkington said. “Two center backs that are both playing at the Division II level that were starters for a couple years, a defensive mid that’s playing D-I. You’ve got to start there. We’re trying to start from the back moving forward. Those two up top are fantastic, but it starts from the back.”

Beck was the team’s leading scorer last season with an even 30 girls. Tobin made a mark in her first varsity game as a freshman. Sofia Rossetto, who scored 12 goals last season, also returns.

However, the team did graduate its two center back captains, Devin Ellis and Carissa Speight. But the Griffins do return their starting goalkeeper Peyton Ellis, who recorded the short-game shutout.

Tobin opened the scoring in the sixth minute. She doubled the lead in the 14^th minute after stealing the ball from an Alton defender about 25 yards out and slotting it home.

Beck scored her first in the 26^th minute and then Tobin wrapped up her hattrick a minute later to make it 4-0. That’s how it stood at halftime.

Tobin assisted Beck in the 42^nd minute and then Beck scored her third in the 49^th minute. Claire Wade scored in the 52^nd minute to cut the clock in half. The final 14 minutes played out scoreless.

“You train and you put the work in; and you never know how practice is going to translate to the game,” Turkington said. “The girls got the nerves out in the first 10-15 minutes and executed.”

Beck, Tobin, and Mira Ahlvers each recorded two assists. Grace Welser also had a helper.

The Griffins are entering this season with high expectations after a 24-2 campaign that saw them win 17 straight to open the season. They’ve also won three straight regional titles, still searching for that first sectional plaque.

“The girls have had a lot of success the last couple of years, and it’s a new year and we’re just trying to create our identity,” Turkington said.

Meanwhile, it’s an Alton side that’s won just five games in the past two seasons, including 2-19-1 last year as the program continues to fight the numbers game.

“We’re going on year three of fighting numbers,” Redbirds head coach Shayna Lacey. “I am excited about this year though. We have a lot of potential; we’ve just got to learn to work and play together as a team. This was just our first game, right?”

The Redbirds are back in action on Saturday, taking on Wesclin at Althoff at 2 p.m.

McGivney plays Wesclin on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Mascoutah and will also play on Saturday against Springfield at Althoff at noon.

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