By By Steve Franklin , Sports Writer
WASHINGTON — Washington coach Jimmy Kozuch calls freshman Beth Bachelor one of the area’s best athletes — regardless of age, sport, or gender.
And after Wednesday night, who can argue?
Bachelor recorded a hat trick and assisted on one other goal as the Pam Pack roared past Havelock, 5-2, on a brisk night in Beaufort County.
Bachelor got the Pam Pack on the scoreboard first as she rocketed a shot into the top right corner of the net, less than 90 seconds into the contest.
The Rams responded midway through the first half as Sarah Porter blew past the Pam Pack defense and arched a shot over the outstretched arms of goalie Ashley Crompton to even the score at 1-1.
But again, Bachelor put Washington out front.
At the 31-minute mark, the freshman attacker took a crossing pass from sophomore Hayley Stowe and again went top shelf to beat Havelock goalie Alex Stout, making it 2-1 in favor of the Pack.
Minutes later, the duo hooked up for a second goal, this time reversing roles as Bachelor fed Stowe who ricocheted the ball off the left post to give Washington a 3-1 halftime lead.
The Pam Pack started the second half in pretty much the same fashion as they finished the first 40 minutes — on the attack.
In the 50th minute, Bachelor capped her hat trick with a perfectly placed shot past a diving Stout, to give the Pam Pack a three-goal lead.
Porter attempted to keep the Rams close as she recorded her second goal of the game on a breakaway in the 63rd minute.
Two minutes later, the Rams’ star forward nearly made it a one-goal game as she broke into the open and rocketed a shot off the left post that trickled away from the goal.
The Pam Pack’s final goal came in the last 30 seconds. Stout blocked the initial line drive by Blaine Prescott, but the ball took a fortuitous Pam Pack bounce that landed on the foot of junior Xenia Adonts, who dribbled the ball into a wide-open net.
The Pam Pack (5-4) fired 21 shots on goal, while the Rams (7-4) had 12 scoring chances. Stout finished with 16 saves for the Rams, while her counterpart had 10 stops for the Pack.
The victory ended a two-game losing streak for Washington, after Coastal Conference losses to New Bern and J.H. Rose in the last week.
Washington will return to action on Monday night when they play host to West Carteret (11-2) at 6 p.m.