The Hillcrest Academy boys soccer team dropped their first match of the season Thursday 8-0 against visiting No. 1 Burlington Notre Dame. The Nikes started fast, building a 3-0 lead in the game’s first 30 minutes before a pair of goals in the final three minutes of the first frame gave them a 5-0 lead at the break.

The two teams played to a stalemate for the first 25 minutes of the second half before Notre Dame broke through the Raven defense for three late tallies. After the match, Hillcrest head coach Marcus Miller talked about what makes the Nikes a tough matchup and what his team can take from the night. “They look like what I think our teams look like in some of the really good years we have had. They swing the ball around the back, do overlapping runs, possess the ball, and cross the ball well from the wings. We knew we were going to have our hands full. We had worked a lot on defense and I think that will help as we go down the road. Next week we play Central Lee so we will regroup. The ability to play good defense is important. The goals and offense will come.”

The Nikes outshot the Ravens 30-0 on the night. Hillcrest goalkeeper Aiden Krabill set a new Raven record with 22 saves. With the loss, Hillcrest is now 1-1 and travels to Central Lee Tuesday.