BIG KICK — Big Red’s Gianna Thomas lines up a shot attempt against Beaver Local during Tuesday’s match. - Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE — Tuesday’s meeting between OVAC unbeatens Beaver Local and Big Red was every bit the thriller one could hope for.

After falling behind by three goals in the first half, Big Red stormed back with five-straight goals and fended off the Beavers for a huge come-from-behind 7-5 victory at Harding Stadium,

“Beaver is always a battle,” Big Red head coach Annie Cutri said. “We knew it was going to be a fight. Tonight was about finding the heart of what it means to play at Big Red, dig deep and come out on top.”

Big Red is now 5-0-1, while the Beavers lost for the first time and fall to 5-1.

“I think both teams understood this was a big game for the OVAC, my girls really gave it their all,” Beaver Local head coach Elizabeth Connor said. “We played hard, we just came out on the short end of the stick. Especially after halftime, it seemed like Steubenville had the momentum.”

Things got off to a rapid start as Brynn Bowers connected in the opening minute, but Beaver Local answered right back at the 1:10 mark.

That caused the first big swing in momentum to go the way of the Beavers as they netted the next three goals for four-in-a-row and a 4-1 lead with 12:09 to play in the opening half.

Leah Stewart gave the Beavers the lead just short of the seven-minute mark. Big Red hit a post and had star player Bailee Beall stopped from in close, and as soon as the ball went the other way Jansen Ours had a tap in to make it 3-1.

Peyton Dunn then added another from long range.

Big Red, though, was not ready to just go to halftime and regroup as Beall fired a high shot that beat Beaver’s keeper with 3:11 to go, and just 38 seconds later Jaylin Crites connected to pull the hosts within one.

“Scoring those two right before halftime was a sign that we weren’t giving up or putting our heads down,” Cutri said. “This shows how resilient this group is. They showed Big Red pride.”

That momentum carried over as Beall, who also assisted on a goal, fired a beautiful shot from the 30-yard-line that tickled the twine just over a minute into the second half, then, after Beall had been stopped on a breakaway, Lucy Saccoccia connected to give Big Red its first lead since the minute of the game.

Gianna Thomas, who also had three assists, scored about five minutes later to make it 6-4.

Alexis Lasure scored for the Beavers with 14:!6 to go, but Big Red keeper Sadie Edwards made perhaps the biggest of her nine saves to keep Steubenville in front with just over five minutes to play.

Thomas then put it away with her second goal of the game in the final minute.

When Beaver Local took a 4-1 lead, it held an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal. By the end, Big Red finished with a wide 18-11 margin in the category, outshooting the Beavers 14-3 .

UP NEXT

Beaver Local: Takes on Brooke at home Thursday.

Big Red: Travels to University on Saturday.