The first win of the season finally came for the Bellmont Braves and coach Jake Briede’s team Thursday night as Malachi LaVine scored a hat trick and the home team won 6-0 over Eastside for the first win of 2026.
LaVine scored his first goal early in the first half when he got behind the Blazers back line for the team’s first goal of the year.
Gus Fuelling added to the tally with his first career goal, knocking in a corner from Romeo Antunes to make it 2-0.
LaVine made it 3-0 with another score near the end of the first half.
In the second half with full confidence and a hunger for more goals, sophomore Garrett Scherer set up Jack Barton for a long-distance shot that will go down as the first varsity goal for Barton, as well.
Barton could have had a second goal, but was hauled down in the box and a penalty was awarded. The coach asked the Brazilian, Antunes, to take the spot kick and he rewarded Briede with a fifth goal.
LaVine then finished off the hat trick to make it 6-0 with 20 to play.
Grayson Riehm had five saves on the night, including two outstanding saves in the first half to keep the clean sheet alive.
Senior Carsten Hudson was also awarded an assist on one of LaVine’s three goals.
The Braves are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Eastbrook to take on the Panthers.
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