Bethel’s Chelsy Swackhamer is one player who opposing teams will have to keep a close on this year.  The Ohio State recruit showed Milton Union just how much of a threat she will be this year in the season opener.

The Lady Bees’ senior scored a hat trick in the opening game, scoring three goals and adding an assist as Bethel came away with a 4-1 victory over the Lady Bulldogs in the opening game of the season last week.

“She did an outstanding job tonight,” said Bethel coach Doug Rabe.  “Look at her assist…she pulled the defense on her side of the field, and found Madeline (Ellerbrock) for her goal.”

“It was a great way to open the season,” he said.  “The girls stepped up and did the job.”

Bethel had a good look at the goal in the first three minutes, just missing a couple of shots at goal which would have given them an early lead.

At the 22:53 mark, Swackhamer took a pass in the box, and just missed over the top bar.  She redeemed herself ten minutes later.

Swackhamer took a shot which deflected off the goalie, and the freshman Ellerbrock punched it in, giving the Lady Bees a 1-0 lead.

“I feel good about her performance as a freshman in her first game,” Rabe said.  “She did a great job as a forward, then moved her to the attack mid and she scored.”

“She was very poised for a freshman with high quality striking.  A lot of freshman would have panicked in that situation, but she did a great job.”

Bethel took the 1-0 lead into the half, and when they came out to start the second half, it was Swackhamer who took over for the Lady Bees.

At the 33:29 mark, she scored on a 10-footer past Kelsey Flory making it 2-0.  Just over a minute later, the Bethel senior found the net after the ball was stopped by Flory, but the ball got away and it was 3-0.

Amber Cantrell broke up the shutout on a free kick at the 25:46 mark making it 3-1, but Swackhamer ended any doubts with her third goal at the 14:36 mark of the second half, putting the Lady Bees up 4-1.

“We played much better defense in the second half,” Rabe said, who praised Krista Burchett, Katelyn Cripps, Hannah Figlestahler, Kim Williams and Kelsey Paden for their strong play defending.

“They all backed each other up,” he added.  Rabe also stated that some improvements that can be made are continuing to play quicker, and use the outside better.

*Bethel came back with an impressive 4-1 win over Dayton Christian in their second game.  Swackhamer added three more goals to her total, while Morgan Rigsby added a goal.

Bethel returns to the field Thursday night hosting National Trail.