By MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter

HOOVER – Spain Park senior Simone Charley led the Jaguars to a 4-1 Class 6A, Area 9 victory over Hoover March 19.

Charley scored two goals in the first 13 minutes and added a penalty kick to earn a hat trick in the Spain Park (10-3-1, 1-0) victory.

“She’s hard to handle for sure,” said Spain Park head coach Robert Starr. “She was able to get a couple of goals early and make things easier on us.”

Both of Charley’s first half goals came on similar plays where she beat the Hoover defenders to the ball and beat the goalkeeper.

Madison Cobb scored with 14 minutes to play in the first half on a ball that looked like a cross that went into the goal to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead.

“We joked about that and called it a shross – a half shot and a half cross,” Starr said with a smile. “Sometimes they just go in for you and sometimes they go against you. It was a good confidence builder for her, especially being an eighth grader.”

Hoover scored with 11 minutes left in the first half to cut Spain Park’s lead to 3-1 at the half.

Charley scored her third goal nine minutes into the second half on a penalty kick after Hoover was called for handball inside the 18-yard box to give Spain Park the 4-1 win

Starr said that he was pleased with the effort his team gave in the victory.

“We were trying to work on some things for the overall season,” said Starr. “We have some young players and some older players and we are continuing to work on the details.”