Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Hubbard sophomore Ashlee Maiorano scores as Girard keeper Marina Cella goes for the ball. Maiorano’s goal put the Eagles up 3-1 in the first half and Hubbard would go on to win 4-2.

HUBBARD — All it takes is one goal to kickstart an offense.

Granted a penalty kick with six minutes into a match isn’t the most common way to begin a game, but for the Hubbard Eagles, a Marysa Chuey score began what would be a thrilling senior night for the Eagles.

Hubbard took home a Northeast-8 victory Wednesday evening over Girard by a final of 4-2, sweeping the season series after a 6-0 shutout victory over the Indians earlier in the Fall.

Set pieces, you can either live or die by them, for the Eagles, stoppages in play made the difference.

“With us, the roster has been thin at times because we’ve had injuries, and there’s been some games where we’ve had as many as five starters out, so for me, coach wise, you look at set pieces as a chance to take your time and get set,” Hubbard coach Josh MacMillian said. “If you execute well, that’s extra time to get that breather and get that break.

“Those players that might be fatigued, we were able to get like a minute almost of down time between the setup, the take, and have to restart, if you can capitalize on those, we’ve had some games where some teams have capitalized on us, but we’ve been kinda fortunate.”

Within the open field, Girard senior Katilyn Culver scored during the 10th minute, but a strike less than 60 seconds later following a free kick, gave the Eagles their lead back when Kenna Reinard found the back of the net.

Hubbard sophomore Ashlee Maiorano put the Eagles up 3-1 before the intermission, sneaking the ball past Girard keeper Marina Cella.

“Kinda felt like we had it, and it was there, but there was still the thought that they could come back,” Maiorano said “It built up the confidence a lot, and made you feel like you’re doing better.”

In the 53rd minute, Culver once again broke free and found the back of the net, cutting the lead to a one with Girard pushing the attack through much of the second half.

On senior night, Chuey had the final say, scoring her second goal with 6:43 remaining, sealing the deal for the team donning the royal blue and white.

A win is great but a senior day victory just hits a little different.

“We didn’t have much time left, so I knew we were up by two, so my adrenaline was just going up,” Chuey explained. “It was very special, if it was our home game, it would have been even more special, but I still really enjoyed it.

“We’re really good, I think is the best team we’ve had so far, we’ve been working together since my freshman year, we can move the ball well, we know what everyone’s good side is.”

The Eagles outshoot Girard 10-2, breaking a two-game losing streak with the playoffs on the horizon.

Following a rough first half, the Indians (5-4-1) showed plenty of offense following halftime, something that Girard coach Seyla Perez was pleased with.

“First half, we came out, and it was a lot more defensive minded for us, we weren’t really getting too much up high, but we did get a good opportunity and we capitalized on it,” Perez said. “They scored on three fouls and a corner, so definitely going to be working on that.

“In the second half, I thought we outplayed them. We kept the balls down here, we kept some pressure on them.”