Freshman Brinley DeWeese got the ball rolling for the Red Raiders, scoring the team’s first goal of the season in under six minutes of game time, and it would never truly stop. A balanced, aggressive effort allowed the team to put up five goals through the first half while stifling Philipsburg-Osceola defensively, as it bulldozed its way to an 8-0 victory over the Mountaineers to kick off the campaign.

“I was just proud of their play overall tonight. I think they came out and possessed the ball well, kept the ball on the ground and moved it around well,” said Bellefonte girls soccer head coach Stacey Miller on the effort. “Our seniors did a great job tonight, and I’m excited for them to kick off their season with a victory on Senior Night.”

When DeWeese handled the ball for the first time in her high school career, it was like a magnet was seamlessly guiding her towards the goal. Innate shiftiness made it tough for the Philipsburg-Osceola defense to slow her down, and it wasn’t long before she was threatening to score.

Through the first five minutes of the game, she already had a shot on goal, just thwarted by Mountaineer goalkeeper Charli Hunt. And on the second a minute later, it all came together, as she received the ball 35 yards out, made multiple defenders miss and fired a shot to the bottom-left corner of the net for the team’s first goal of the season.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express From left, Bellefonte seniors Brooke Whitman, Laila Packer, Madyson Miller, Delaney Badger and Triniti Jackson pose for a photo before the girls soccer team's Senior Night opener against Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders won 8-0.

“I think it was just having lot of confidence, trusting all my teammates, my coaches,” said DeWeese on what fueled her lack of intimidation in her high school debut. “Just got to trust yourself; trust your teammates.”

That goal marked one of two for the freshman, who shined in her prolific debut alongside sophomore sister Addalyn DeWeese. The latter finished with two goals of her own on top of a game-high two assists, the second which went to her sister.

After a brief stalling from the offense following DeWeese’s opening goal, Addalyn DeWeese rebounded a save from Hunt before assisting freshman Kaylee Knepp on her first goal of her career. Then, two minutes later, she lined up for a corner kick, hoping to set the team up for its third goal.

She proceeded to curve the kick into the perfect spot to ricochet off a Philipsburg-Osceola defender into the net. And four minutes later, she did the exact same thing, playing a key role in three separate goals within a span of seven minutes that upped the team’s lead from one to four.

“I didn’t even think they were gonna go in, then I saw it ricochet and go into the back of the net,” said DeWeese. “It made me really happy because last year, we struggled on getting them to do that. So, that was really nice.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte freshman Brinley DeWeese navigates through multiple defenders during the girls soccer team's Senior Night opener against Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders won 8-0.

Bellefonte’s pressure would continue to grow more imposing from there, and on one occasion where it got the Mountaineers off-balance, the sisters got a chance to share a goal. Addalyn dished the ball to Brinley, then Brinley made a defender miss, lined up and fired a ball off Hunt’s hands for the team’s fifth goal of the half.

It was an exciting moment for the sisters, a great way to end an active stanza.

“I thought it was really good because we didn’t even talk about it. We just kind of did it,” said Addalyn. “I was really happy to assist Brinley on a goal.”

“It’s really cool, especially playing with my sister my freshman year,” emphasized Brinley. “I’m just really happy.”

Following the break, the Red Raiders kept up the offensive pressure, activating the running clock with a goal just three minutes into the second half and notching another two after that.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte sophomore Addalyn DeWeese performs a corner kick during the girls soccer team's Senior Night opener against Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders won 8-0.

Junior captain Sydney Miller, the team’s leading scorer from last season, attributed a pair of goals of her own, both coming on solo breakaways. And after getting fouled as time expired, senior Brooke Whitman drilled the penalty kick to put the cherry on top of a well-rounded victory.

Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Ronni Spotts didn’t see much action, a testament to Bellefonte’s defenders keeping the ball away from the box. She was there when the team needed her, however, with Miller and her teammates complimenting her on her high school debut.

“She was ready and pretty vocal in the back tonight for us, glad to see her so active even though she didn’t see much pressure tonight,” said Miller. “We had a lot of youth debuting. We’re pretty young, but I think they all stepped up and played well.”

Overall, it a strong opening outing for Red Raiders, who kicked off 2025 with its fourth straight opening win – the most dominant of the quartet. It gives them confidence heading into a tough slate, where they’ll look to carry the momentum forward.

“We all had really good mindsets, put our foot on the pedal and just went with it, kept staying positive and attacking the goal,” said Addalyn DeWeese on the win.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte junior Sydney Miller makes a move before scoring a goal during the girls soccer team's Senior Night opener against Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders won 8-0.

“We’ve really grown as a team, just like communicating and everything,” emphasized Brinley DeWeese. “I’m just really proud, especially doing it for all the seniors.”

They have a challenge ahead of them to close out Week One, as they face off against a strong foe in Penns Valley on Wednesday. That game is set for 6 p.m. at Rogers Stadium.

“We take it one match at a time,” said Miller. “Now, it’s time to turn around and focus on Penns Valley, who’s always a tough opponent.”

Bellefonte 8, Philipsburg-Osceola 0

First-half scoring: B – Brinley DeWeese (unassisted), 34:28. B – Kaylee Knepp (Addalyn DeWeese), 21:53. B – Addalyn DeWeese (unassisted), 19:28. B – Addalyn DeWeese (unassisted), 15:28. B – Brinley DeWeese (Addalyn DeWeese), 5:43.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte freshman goalkeeper Ronni Spotts performs a goal kick during the girls soccer team's Senior Night opener against Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders won 8-0.

Second-half scoring: B – Sydney Miller (unassisted), 37:16. B – Miller (unassisted), 24:32. B – Brooke Whitman (penalty kick), 0:00.

Shots: Bellefonte 41, Philipsburg-Osceola 1.

Shots on goal: Bellefonte 25, Philipsburg-Osceola 0.

Corners: Bellefonte 11, Philipsburg-Osceola 1.

Saves: Bellefonte (Ronni Spotts) 0, Philipsburg-Osceola (Charli Hunt) 17.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte senior Madyson Miller tries to shake a defender during the girls soccer team's Senior Night opener against Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders won 8-0.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte fights for possession during the girls soccer team's Senior Night opener against Philipsburg-Osceola on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders won 8-0.