Penton scores another hat trick for fast-starting Sailors

PORT CLINTON — Livia Penton is inevitable. And sometimes, the inevitability shows itself almost immediately. Vermilion's all-time leading scorer notched her first goal less than two minutes into Wednesday's match, added two more tallies to finish with a hat trick, and led the Sailors to a 3-1 win at Port Clinton (2-4, 0-2-0 SBC). Penton has now totaled 85 goals in her historic career and is up to 16 goals as a senior in seven matches. "As I've said numerous times, she's a great young lady and works hard," Vermilion coach Matt DeCapua said. "Everything she does, she sets the bar high for everybody." With the win, Vermilion improved to 5-1-1, including 2-0-1 in the SBC. It was a key victory in keeping the Sailors near the top of the league table. "We have a good team," DeCapua said. "We have to support (Penton), we have to support everybody… We have a program here, and I think we can do good things." Even as Penton piled up the goals the last two seasons, Vermilion had a pair of losing records. But with nine seniors in this group under first-year coach DeCapua, things have been different this fall. "Our mentality is a lot different this year," Penton said. "We're definitely a lot more motivated, more focused." Penton opened the scoring 107 seconds into Wednesday's match. She took the ball away and got quickly into space on her left foot before slotting it into the bottom right corner. "That relieves a lot of the pressure for sure, it's always really nice to score early on," Penton said. Penton's finest moment Wednesday came after earning herself a free kick near the right sideline about 35 yards out. After a deep breath, Penton struck pure through the middle of the ball. Its flight never wavered as it flew into the upper reaches of the net. "Yeah, that felt good off my foot for sure," Penton said. "I've been hitting them in practice. I haven't made in the games yet, so it felt nice to score that one." Penton finished her scoring in the second half on a tight angle right-footed shot after creating space with the dribble from the left side of the box. "It's insane," Rhoades said. "I don't even save them at practice. They're too much." Port Clinton had cut it to 2-1 before that goal when Morgan Delhees fed Morgan Woods for a chipped finish. PC couldn't get another one, though, in part due to nine saves from Vermilion senior Abi Rhoades. Rhoades' biggest stop came on a Jade Mitchell breakaway in the first half. The shot nearly went over Rhoades' head, but she managed to tip the ball up and off the bar. "I don't even know what I saw, I just went for it," Rhoades said. "I went at it with all my force and just hoped." Rhoades, playing with a torn left ACL, tweaked her bad knee on that save, stayed down for a few minutes and subbed out of the game. But she was right back in and helped finish the job with sure-handedness the rest of the way. "She's a tough kid," DeCapua said. Aside from a few tough early moments, Vermilion's back line helmed by sweeper Camrin Lowder limited chances from a talented Port Clinton attack that was missing senior Gladys Wiechman (knee). "Our back line had a great game today," DeCapua said. "I tip my hat to the four that were back there today. Cam can track anybody down, our outside backs do a nice job keeping the ball in front." Vermilion will host Shelby on Saturday before welcoming Edison for another key league matchup next week. The Sailors have their leader and a bunch of players performing well around her, and they're hoping to keep this strong start going. "For our senior year, our goal has always been to win conference," Penton said. "We're just super motivated this year and really excited to see what comes."