Agape Freedom Sports LLC

By: Jeric Yurkanin | Staff | Agape Sports

The Lakeland Lady Chiefs came out kicking, determined not to hold back after dropping their season opener to Wyoming Seminary Prep. They weren’t about to start the year 0–2.

It was a game played with grit and control. From the opposite sideline, the atmosphere carried its own character—smoke drifted across the field, maybe from a fire pit or a backyard cookout, blending with the crisp, chilly evening air. It was a fitting backdrop for a team that played with fire and focus.

From the opening whistle, Lakeland dictated the first half on both ends of the field. Their new goalkeeper, first year playing soccer, Kamri Naniewicz – hardly had to make a save, protected by a rock-solid defense in front of her. Mountain View managed a few pushes forward, but the Chiefs’ back line held its ground. Players like Bria Hill, Natalie and Naomi Rude stepped up at key moments—blocking shots, intercepting passes, and stripping possessions to keep the Eagles off the board.

By halftime, the Lady Chiefs had already built a commanding 3–0 lead. And they didn’t let up after the break. With 23 minutes left in the second half, Lakeland had pushed the score to 6–0, burying Mountain View under relentless offensive pressure. The defense continued to shine, giving their keeper a quiet night while the midfielders and forwards kept the attack alive.

It was the response Lakeland needed—a statement win that showed resilience, energy, and a refusal to let one loss define their season.

The Lakeland Lady Chiefs stormed into Saturday’s matchup at Chapman Lake with one goal in mind—change the story. After dropping a wild 7–5 season opener to Wyoming Seminary, and still carrying the sting of a 4–11 campaign in 2024 that ended with yet another playoff loss to Seminary, the Chiefs knew enough was enough. Just a season removed from being crowned the 2023 District 2 Class 1A champions, this program wasn’t about to let back-to-back down years define them. They came hungry—for a spark, for fresh energy, and for the kind of chemistry that could put Lakeland soccer right back where it belongs.

And that spark? It came from the Rude sisters.

Freshman Natalie Rude wasted no time lighting it up, blasting in the opening goal to set the tone. From there, Lakeland never looked back. They pushed the pace, played with swagger, and by halftime the Lady Chiefs were cruising with a 3–0 lead.

The second half was a statement. Just 10 minutes in, Natalie buried her second of the day, and moments later, Bria Hill ripped one past the keeper to stretch it to 5–0. Then older sister Naomi Rude joined the party, punching in a goal of her own to make it six unanswered.

Mountain View showed fight, breaking the shutout with a goal from Emily Trichilo in the 67th minute, but this game belonged to Lakeland from start to finish. And fittingly, it was Natalie again—sealing her breakout night with a late dagger in the 78th minute to complete her hat trick and lock down a commanding 7–1 victory.

“My mindset was to come and win. I know I have a good team around me, and they have good energy,” said Natalie Rude.

“Our defense obviously contributed the most during today’s win, and it helped me individually on the field to do what I needed to do.”

This year Lakeland has a group of young, talented freshmen who will hopefully help guide the Lady Chiefs to a winning season.

“We did really good today. We have a great group of freshmen that came up this year. We lost a few players due to graduation, but we all played well together. It’s a great opportunity to have my sister Natalie playing with me—we feed off each other’s energy and have really good field chemistry. It’s so amazing,” said her older sister Naomi Rude.

She continued: “We played well today. I think because of the practices we had—we did some drills that helped us in this game, like communication and working on our defensive positioning—it turned out in our favor. We got the win.”

It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.

The Lady Chiefs aren’t here to repeat last year—they’re here to write a new chapter.

It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.

The Lady Chiefs aren’t here to repeat last year—they’re here to write a new chapter. One like they had just two years ago. This is Lakeland Lady Chiefs soccer. A program with a standard to uphold and a reputation to rebuild.

With the Rude sisters leading the charge, that goal feels more possible than ever. Keep an eye on Natalie and Naomi this season—either one can sneak a goal in on you at any moment. And make no mistake, Lakeland isn’t finished. Expect them to be right in the mix for a District 2 championship run this year.