Freeport girls soccer, led by freshman Elena Jenkins’ two goals, storms back to top Butler
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Freeport's Peyton Los attempts to score during a girls soccer game against Butler at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford runs down the field during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Freeport celebrates their win over Butler during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Freeport's Sam Liput runs down the field during a girls soccer game against Butler at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Sydney Patterson steals the ball from Freeport during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Freeport's Cece Schlegel kicks the ball to a teammate during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Freeport's Camryn Woods battles for the ball with Butler during a girls soccer game against Butler at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Freeport's Camryn Woods battles for the ball with Butler during a girls soccer game against Butler at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Kara Lubinsky battles for the ball with Freeport during a girls soccer game against Butler at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford runs the ball down the field during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Freeport's Ella McConville kicks the ball to a teammate during a girls soccer game against Butler at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Freeport's Peyton Los attempts watches for the ball during a girls soccer game against Butler at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Lydia Mohney and Freeport's Camryn Woods battle for the ball during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Lydia Mohney and Freeport's Camryn Woods battle for the ball during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford falls while attempting to score during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford reacts to a referees call during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford runs down the field during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford runs the ball down the field during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford reacts to a referees call during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Molly Rudish and Freeport's Tess Hanak battle for the ball during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford tries to regain control of the ball during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford tries to regain control of the ball during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Maggie Lucas, left, and Julia Ameduri try to prevent Freeport's Sam Liput from stealing the ball during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford reacts to a referees call during a girls soccer game against Freeport at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
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Butler's Sydney Patterson and Freeport's Camryn Woods battle for the ball during a girls soccer game at Butler Intermediate High School on Thursday, August 29. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/29/2024)
BUTLER TWP — Elena Jenkins is one of several freshmen fighting for playing time on Freeport’s varsity girls soccer team.
She made a strong case for herself Thursday evening at Butler, scoring the tying goal and eventual game-winner in a 3-2 victory for the Yellowjackets.
Jenkins’ goals came in the 62nd and 66th minute.
“I got control of a through-ball both times before putting it into the net,” she said. “It means a lot to me to help the team. I love playing with everyone.”
Jenkins also scored a goal in Monday’s 6-0 win over Indiana.
“We’ve been playing her as a winger, but (assistant) Coach Phil (Bromfield) suggested we put her at center forward tonight and it worked out,” first-year Freeport coach Steve Kukic said.
The two tallies from Jenkins were part of the Yellowjackets’ second-half flurry against Butler (0-2) goalie Ashton Huff. After trailing 2-0 at halftime, Ella McConville’s corner kick in the 59th minute, Freeport’s fifth corner of the game, led to Tess Hanak’s goal that cut Butler’s lead to one.
“Freeport just played better than us in the second half,” Butler coach Dan Buzzard said. “We did not match their intensity. We lost to Mt. Lebanon (2-0 on Monday), and I felt a lot better coming out of that game than I do this one.”
After gaining the lead, the ‘Jackets did not let up on the offensive end, playing the vast majority of the duration of the game near Butler’s net.
One exception came in the 76th minute when a rush from the Golden Tornado resulted in a foul called against Freeport (2-0) just outside of the penalty box, but when play resumed, Butler misplayed the ball, which went out of bounds without the ‘Jackets having to make a play on it.
“Butler was making mistakes and we wanted to remain aggressive and take advantage of them,” Kukic said. “We did a much better job of communicating in the second half.”
In the first half, it was Butler putting Freeport on its heels with a pair of goals from junior forward Cecelia Wolford. She managed to get behind the defense in both instances.
She scored a handful of goals as a sophomore, but Buzzard sees potential in Wolford to lead the team in scoring this year.
“Her speed and ability to finish make her a dangerous player,” he said. “We have a young team, but a ton of talent.”
Huff made three saves in the second half for Butler. Kaylen Yaracs, who is expected to start in the section opener Wednesday at Pine-Richland, stopped five shots in the first half.
Alyssa Alcorn was the winning goalie with three saves.
Both teams will look to make the WPIAL playoffs this season out of different classes, Freeport being in 2A and Butler in 4A.
“This win is huge for us,” Kukic said. “This was our first real challenge of the season. We’re playing a lot of freshmen, and this was a stepping stone for the team. I’m proud of the effort.”
