BELLEVILLE — The dynamic duo of Annika Martin and Peyton Burd carried Juniata Christian over Belleville Mennonite by the final score of 6-0 in an Allegheny Christian Athletic Association girls soccer game on Tuesday.

“We hung tough, we had a really, really tough game last night against Meadowbrook where we lost in overtime,” Lions coach Todd Taylor said. “I think we came out a little sluggish in the first half, but in the second half we played much better. That’s all we can ask is that you improve as the game goes on.”

It did not take long for Juniata Christian to get on the scoreboard as Erin Sheaffer found Martin who scored the goal to put the Lions up 1-0.

Martin made her presence felt again as with just under 25 minutes left in the opening half, Martin moved the ball over to Brinley Seler who lobbed the shot over the head of Belleville Mennonite keeper Karina Renno to extend it to a 2-0 lead.

The final goal of the half came on a penalty kick from Burd who after getting tripped up by the Thunder defense, lined up a shot that slightly got past Renno to give the Lions a 3-0 lead at the break.

The score could have been a lot worse if not for the efforts of Renno who throughout the game was facing heavy fire from the Juniata Christian offense. In fact, Renno faced 36 shots on goal in the game, saving 30 of those shots.

“I’m really happy with her play tonight,” Thunder coach Kelsey Peachey said. “I mean to have 36 shots on goal and only let six in — and a lot of them were on breakaways –I’m very pleased with her today.”

The Lions added three more goals in th second half where once again Martin came through as Burd launched a pass over to a high flying Martin who had a one-on-one opportunity against Renno and ended up winning that battle.

Then with 16:25 remaining in the game, Martin found an open Sheaffer who knocked the ball toward the net and Renno was able to tip the ball away, however the official ruled that the ball was over the line giving the Lions a 5-0 lead.

Within the final five minutes of the game, Juniata Christian came back for more as Burd had found Martin again, creating another one-on one-situation and once again Martin was able to put the ball in the back of the net. “We definitely picked it up and played the way we wanted to play,” Taylor said. “Hopefully this will continue for the next weeek and a half here until we get into the playoffs.”

Martin led the Lions with a hat trick and had two assists while Burd added a goal and two assists of the game.

“She really played well,” Taylor said of Martin. “And Peyton (Burd) played well. Our defense was a little off in the first half but second half we played much better.”

Not only did Juniata Christian hold the Thunder scoreless, but did not allow many shot opportunities for Belleville Mennonite as the Lions outshot the Thunder 36-2.

“We’re still a young team and we’re still learning how to play together and move the ball up the field,” Peachey said. “So I think its going to come with experience to breakdown the other team’s defense.”

With this win Juniata Christian moves to (7-4) and will look to keep the winning ways going on Thursday as the Lions will travel to face Grace Prep.

Belleville Mennonite (3-8-1) will look to get back into the win column on Friday as the Thunder will travel to battle it out with Columbia County Christan.

“I feel the girls played really good game today,” Peachey said. “They have a fire in them and I’m just anxious to see them go out there and wok hard.”

Juniata Christian 6, Belleville Mennonite 0

FIRST HALF

J – Annika Martin (Erin Sheaffer), 35:01; J – Brinley Seler (Martin), 24:46; J – Peyton Burd (PK).

SECOND HALF

J – Martin (Burd), 32:44; J – Sheaffer (Martin), 16:25; J – Martin (Burd), 4:42.

Shots: J 36-2. Corners: J 11-0. Saves: J-2 (Morgan Moyer), BMS-30 (Karina Renno)