Woodstock’s Sophie Leggett, third from left, is congratulated by her teammates after scoring on a penalty kick set up by a breakaway from freshman Hannah Reed (6) late in their game with Oxbow in Woodstock, Vt., on Sept. 18, 2018. Woodstock won, 3-2. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Woodstock’s Sophie Leggett, third from left, is congratulated by her teammates after scoring on a penalty kick set up by a breakaway from freshman Hannah Reed (6) late in their game with Oxbow in Woodstock, Vt., on Sept. 18, 2018. Woodstock won, 3-2. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: Valley News — Geoff Hansen

Woodstock — Hannah Reid has been quick on her feet for as far back as she can remember. All she needs as a freshman striker on Woodstock High’s girls soccer team is an opportunity to show it.

Reid broke free in the 78th minute of Tuesday’s match against Oxbow, setting up the game-winning penalty kick — converted by Woodstock junior Sophie Leggett — to lift the Wasps over the Olympians, 3-2.

It was a play Reid had been waiting all game for: a through ball that allowed her to use her speed against Oxbow’s defenders.

“I said at half, ‘Hey, if they’re going to give us all that space back there, then let’s take advantage,’ ” said Woodstock junior varsity coach Alyssa Smith, who filled in for varsity coach Greg LaBella, who was out because of a family matter. “I know our strikers have speed, so just send it and let’s let it be a foot race, if that’s what they want.

“I coached (Reid) in middle school,” Smith added. “She was the same way. She’s always been a strong striker with her speed.”

Reid got past everybody for the breakaway, took two touches and was hauled down in the box with 1 minute, 6 seconds left on the scoreboard. Leggett buried the PK to the left of Oxbow goalkeeper Mason Tomlinson for her second goal of the season, lifting the Wasps to 2-2 through their first four games.

“I think through balls are the main point of how I’m able to get my shot,” Reid said. “I kind of know that if the defense can give me that chip ball, that I’m able to break away pretty fast from the defense and have my shot on goal.”

The win was a bounce-back game for Woodstock, who fell, 2-1, to Hartford on Saturday at the Maxfield Sports Complex. For the Olympians, who entered the game undefeated at 4-0, the loss was a crash back down to reality.

“It seems characteristic that we start out slow,” Smith said. “Eventually, we kind of get into it. We make adjustments at halftime, and I think the adjustments we made at halftime really were the difference in this game. We played hard, made things happen and put pressure on their defense.”

Oxbow eighth-grader Avery Barton scored both goals for the visitors, who took a 1-0 lead 12:40 into the contest off Barton’s foot, thanks to a feed to the middle from junior Melanie Neil. Barton later scored the game-tying goal in the second half, her eighth goal in five games for the Olympians.

“We were soft. We didn’t show up. They beat us to everything,” said Oxbow head coach Charlie Barton. “We weren’t tough enough. … You’ve got to have more than three players show up.

“(Avery Barton) is playing really well, but she’s got a long way to go,” he added. “We have a strong core in the middle. She’s not a forward. We’re playing her out of position. … She’s a midfielder. She’ll been fine; she’ll be good.”

Woodstock’s Alexa Tsouknakis scored 17 seconds after Barton’s first goal to tie the game, 1-1. Tsouknakis found time and space just outside the box and launched a shot off the right post and in for her first goal of the season.

Audrey Eggum gave Woodstock a 2-1 lead in the 22nd minute with her first score of the year, finishing off a corner kick that deflected off her knee and in. The Wasps took the lead into halftime.

Barton tied the game in the 54th minute on a lob over Woodstock keeper Emma Tarleton’s head, attacking the goal against four Woodstock defenders who gave her plenty of room.

Tarleton made 10 saves in the victory. Tomlinson made six saves for Oxbow, who outshot the Wasps, 12-9, and finished the game trailing on corners, 5-3.

“We started pretty strong; they started pretty slow,” said the Oxbow coach. “Once they turned it on, we didn’t match it.

“It wasn’t indicative of how we can play, but I don’t want to take it back because then you don’t learn from it. … It’s a big reality check. It’s the first team that played us hard, and we didn’t step up.”

For Smith and the Wasps, the win helps the team press the reset button after the loss to Hartford.

“I think all the games we’ve played, we’ve been in it,” Smith said. “It’s a matter of one goal going one way or the other. That’s what we keep telling the girls. We’re right there. It’s going to come down to one shot in the last minute. You just have to be ready for your opportunity.”

Woodstock hosts Springfield on Thursday. Oxbow is home to Enosburg Falls on Friday.

Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.