Tyrone has been fielding a varsity girls soccer team for a decade.  Each year since the inaugural 2005 season the Lady Eagles have faced perennial local powerhouse Bellefonte, and each year they have lost to the Lady Red Raiders.

Until this Saturday.

The Lady Eagles recorded their first ever win over Bellefonte in a 3-0 shutout at home.

Senior goalkeeper Madison Noll recorded her third shutout of the season and Bellwood senior Marissa Panasiti scored two goals and had an assist.

The win was especially sweet for assistant coach Tiffany (Bradford) Smith, who has been around the Tyrone girls soccer program since it’s inception as both a player and a coach.

“I told the girls this was probably the best victory I’ve experienced in all my years of competing and coaching because I’ve seen this program go from not winning a single game in a season to probably competing for a district title this year,” said Smith.

“They have finally found their confidence and feel like they can beat any team,” added Smith.

For the first 30 minutes of play it was anyone’s game until senior Anna Baran played a forward ball to the feet of Panasiti who looped it over the keepers head to take a 1-0 lead.  The score stayed 1-0 into halftime.

Early in the second half the Lady Eagles struck twice within a minute to take over the game.

Bellwood senior Raegan Plowman, seven minutes into the second half, played a ball into the path of Panasiti who caught the keeper off her line for the 2nd goal for this match.

One minute later, Panasiti crossed a ball into the box and Audrey Bowser found a spot on the near post to score the third goal.

The defense for the Tyrone Eagles stepped up, along with keeper Madison Noll, and allowed no opportunities for Bellefonte to make a noise as they closed out the half to take the victory.

“We’ve never had a problem scoring goals this season,” said Smith, “but now our defense is clicking and we are performing excellent on both sides of the ball,” said Smith.

The Lady Eagles will be back in action tonight, at home vs. the Tussey Mountain Lady Titans to celebrate senior night.

SCORE BY HALVES

Bellefonte 0 0 — 0

Tyrone     1 2 — 3

First Half: T – M. Panasiti (A.Baran): 7:59;

Second Half: T- M.Panasiti (R.Plowman)34:10;A.Bowser (M.Panasiti): 33:27;

Records: Bellefonte (9-6); Tyrone (8-5).