DANVILLE – Isabelle Gouin continued to score at a record pace and the defense was perfect last week as the Hazen Union girls soccer team blanked Caledonia United, Missisquoi Valley and Richford, improving to 7-2 on the season.
Isabelle Gouin, Taylor Thompson and freshman Kennidee Gouin all found the back of the net to lead a balanced Lady Cat scoring attack in a 3-0 road win over Cal United last Monday. Isabelle Gouin put the visitors ahead just sixty seconds into the match and younger sister Kennidee made it 2-0 Hazen thirteen minutes later from the top of the 18-yard line. Thompson connected on a long-range rocket to make it 3-0 with seven minutes left in the first half to end the scoring on the day. Ella Renaud recorded two saves to preserve the shutout. Eliska Siebenbrunner made nine stops for Cal United as they fell to 3-4-1. They’ll look to get back on track this week as they travelled to Vergennes on Tuesday before hosting Richford on Friday.
Autumn Dailey fed Isabelle Gouin for the only score of the match as Hazen held off Missisquoi 1-0 at home on Wednesday. Dailey hit a streaking Gouin towards the right side of the box where she beat multiple Lady Thunderbird defenders for the game winner 15 minutes into the match. Kelsie Rivard made five stops to help the Hazen defense record a clean sheet. Leah Thompson made seven saves for Missisquoi, who fell to 3-4-2 on the season. The match was a makeup from Homecoming Weekend that was postponed then due to thunder and lightning.
“Missisquoi put pressure on us all game, but I felt like we did a good job dominating possession throughout the match,” said head coach Megan Mercier.
Isabelle Gouin reached a career milestone with the 50th goal of her career, adding two more scores and an assist as the Lady Cats routed Richford at home on Friday 6-0. Thompson, Rivard, and Kennidee Gouin rounded out the scoring with a goal and an assist apiece as the Lady Cats exacted some revenge on the defending Division IV champions. Richford has knocked Hazen out of the postseason the last two years but is in full rebuild mode this season, falling to 1-7-1. Ella Renaud made three stops to secure the fifth shutout of the season for the Lady Cat defense.
“It was a highly anticipated match up for the girls against this team. We did a good job dominating play throughout the match and their keeper made several dramatic and impressive saves,” said Mercier.
Gouin has now amassed 52 goals in her stellar career, including 17 this season. The 2024 Vermont All-State selection is now just two away from tying Kaitlyn Forant’s school record of 54, set in 2008.
Gouin and the Lady Cats could make history in a busy week on the road that saw them square off against Paine Mountain on Tuesday, before traveling to Oxbow on Thursday and Enosburg on Friday.
