Secret's Out: Villa Has One of the Top-Notch Soccer Teams Around

This a little something going on, on the lower athletic fields at Villa Duchesne. A very solid soccer team is emerging from the ranks.

The Villa Saints toyed with John Burroughs and won going away in an Metro League match, 6-1 Tuesday afternoon. The Saints are 5-1 on the season, while the Bombers tumble to 0-2.

This could have been the rust bowl.

Villa was away on spring break for 10 days, Burroughs was off for 19 days.

“We really don’t care if others recognize us this season,” said captain and senior Hanna Benben. Benben who doubles as a forward and goal keeper had one goal in the game and that tied the match early at one apiece.

Burroughs had a momentary glimmer of hope opening the scoring at 9:47 of the first half, with Sarah Botteron lifting a long free kick high over the head of the other Saints goal keeper Andrea Hermann.

From then on, it was all Saints as they scored six unanswered goals. They came from Benben, then Megan Hillemann, Morgan Gast and Anne Marie Murphy. Murphy’s goal with 1:08 left in the half gave Tim Twellman’s team a comfortable 4-1 lead at the break.

In the second stanza, Benben got her second goal with an assist from fellow basketball player Kateleya Frost and Gabbie Menendez closed out the scoring barrage late in the game.

Gast’s goal was a classic. A shot on goal hit the post then stopped dead at the feet of Bombers keeper Haley Botteron. Gast swept in and got the easy touch for her solo in the game.

“That felt good. I was glad to get it. It’s nice the way we are playing, especially after coming off a long break,” said the sophomore forward.

“I’m just glad everyone gave their best effort,” said Gast.

Villa, the not so well kept secret anymore outshot Burroughs 16 shots to 8.

There’s little downtime for Villa. They play Westminster on the road later today.