Brophy, Bittner kick West Lafayette past Jeff Red Devils - Score four goals in second half

There’s something about the letter B and West Lafayette girls soccer success.

Janice Babbs. Karen Babbs. Amy Burrell. Jessica Bernard. All are prolific Red Devil soccer alums.

Now, add Katie Bittner and Erin Brophy.

Brophy scored twice Tuesday night, and Bittner added a pair of goals and an assist at Scheumann Stadium, leading the Red Devils to a 5-2 victory against Lafayette Jeff.

Brophy’s first goal gave WL (5-2) a 1-0 halftime lead, but the Bronchos’ Scyler Wright tied it with 38:16 remaining in the second half. Brophy needed only 30 seconds to break the tie, beginning a string of four Red Devil goals.

Wright scored on a penalty kick with 1:52 remaining.

“Bittner really is the lynchpin on our team,” Brophy said. “She always is able to score when we are down. She really keeps our team going with her talent.”

Brophy said WL’s ability to score quickly after Jeff (1-5-1) pulled even was huge. Laurel Fricker added three Red Devil assists.

“It was good to bounce back,” Brophy said. “It’s hard to do that sometimes when we are down, but tonight, we were able to get back up quickly.”

Bittner’s speed on Jeff’s artificial surface was an advantage, Red Devils coach Aaron Blessing said.

“Brophy’s second was a huge goal,” Blessing said. “We knew that we had space. We talked about that at halftime. We had space but weren’t looking for the shot. But that second goal was perfect. We had three or four passes connected.

“We did turn it up in the second half. We had a lot of chances in the first half but couldn’t put them away. We beat teams, but we don’t really put them away. It took a couple of goals for us to impose our will on them. Bittner plays at a very high speed, and this field really helps her game.”

Jeff coach Coleen Hamrick is attempting to find a way to combat a lack of depth. Fatigue played a factor in the final 25 minues, when WL scored three times.

“We held them for 65 minutes, but it comes to the point that I don’t have a bench,” Hamrick said. “We have to figure out how we can stay in the game the full 80 minutes.”

“We were very much in that game tonight. They are strong, but so are we. We scouted and figured out what they go for. We know their strengths. But it’s 80 minutes.”