Pickens’ hat trick leads RHS past Valley

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Boys soccer

Rochester 7, Tippecanoe Valley 2 (Thursday): Zach Pickens had three goals and three assists, and Wade Shafer had two goals and three assists to lead the visiting Zebras to their second win over Valley this season.

Layne Backus and Mitchell Shafer had one goal each.

Pickens has 31 goals this season, an RHS single-season record.

Alexis Hernandez and Christian Ramirez scored for Valley, who also lost to RHS 4-2 on Sept. 16 in their Three Rivers Conference matchup.

Caleb Petgen also had an assist for Valley (4-8-2).

RHS finishes the regular season 10-4.

RHS led 5-0 at halftime.

The game was scheduled after both teams had cancellations. The game did not count in the TRC standings.

The teams could meet again in the Class 2A, Sectional 22 final on Oct. 10.