Fillmore head coach Jon Beardsley nets 400th career victory, Russell nets four goals to help propel Lady Eagles to 8-0 win at Andover/Whitesville

[PHOTO PROVIDED]

WHITESVILLE — There have been plenty of triumphant moments that Fillmore head coach Jon Beardsley has been a part of with the Lady Eagles girls soccer program. With it of course, the amazing and incredible pipeline of talented soccer superstars that have come and gone, year in and year out.

Lest we forget, the immense support from the surrounding soccer community in Fillmore to help make it all happen. You mix all of these elements together, and you have yourself one of Section V’s most prominent perennial powerhouses in recent memory.

On Tuesday, another defining moment for the program occurred after an 80-minute session with Andover/Whitesville over the road — Career victory No. 400 for the longtime Lady Eagles mastermind.

The Lady Eagles set the tone right away against Andover/Whitesville on offense after the first half. Led by the likes of Hope Russell once again on the front line, the visitors in white and green ensured victory at the end of the night, scoring four goals in each 40 minute stanza to stroll towards what was an 8-0 road shutout.

“I’m fortunate. First and foremost, the student-athletes deserve all the credit. Year in and year out, I’ve had kids that have gone above and beyond and they’ve bought into what FCS soccer is all about. It’s 1000 percent why I do what I do,” said Lady Eagles coach Jon Beardsley. “Along with that, I have a team of people, from assistants to volunteers, parents, support staff, family and friends that are part of making this all possible. Most notably, the best assistant and friend anyone could ask for in Jeff Fuller. Any win or credit I get, he definitely is sharing with me. While I don’t take 400 wins for granted, winning is hard and it’s fun, but it’s not my “why”. It’s the kids, and it’s being an educator and trying to make them the best they can be on and off the field. The thing is they help me more than I help them.”

The scoring for Fillmore (3-0) began just past the 10 minute mark in the opening half when Hope Russell connected with her first of three first half goals to record the hat trick. In between the goals, an assist dished off to her sister Grace Russell nearly 10 minutes removed from the opening tally to branch the lead over Andover/Whitesville to a pair.

After finishing the half with back-to-back goals from Hope Russell in 1:48, the scoring continued in the second half with four more goals, including the fourth and final tally from Russell, Grace Russell’s second goal of the game and a score each from Mylee Miller and Mattie McCumiskey. Montana Gayford picked up an assist on McCumiskey’s tally with 11:55 left to play.

Fillmore recorded 21 total shots against Andover/Whitesville (0-2), while the defense in turn held the hosts in black to just four. Preslee Miller made all four stops to record the shutout. On the other end, Olivia Waters put a stop to 13 shots.

Both teams are back on the pitch Friday night, with the Lady Eagles heading back home to host Friendship/Scio in a 7 p.m. first kick, while Andover/Whitesville hits the road for a visit to Alfred-Almond at 5:30 p.m.