GALLIPOLIS, Ohio — The Ohio Valley Christian soccer team rallied back from an early deficit by scoring seven straight goals en route to a 7-3 victory Tuesday over visiting Grace Christian in a non-conference matchup in Gallia County.

The Defenders (1-1-0) trailed 1-0 after Brandon McClay scored a minute into the contest, but the hosts responded with four successive goals to take a 4-1 cushion into the intermission.

Chance Burleson tied the game at one in the 18th minute after planting a pass from Caleb McKitrick into the back of the net. Richard Bowman gave OVCS the permanent lead in the 21st minute after scoring an unassisted goal from around the top of the 18-yard box for a 2-1 edge.

McKitrick made it a 3-1 game in the 26th minute after scoring on a T.G. Miller pass, then Burleson concluded the first half scoring a minute later on an unassisted goal for a 4-1 halftime lead.

OVCS added three more goals in the second half to take its biggest lead of the night at 7-1, but Grace responded with a pair of goals in the final three minutes to close the game at its four-goal outcome.

McKitrick scored on a Burleson pass in the 60th minute for a 5-1 cushion, then Josh Blevins joined the scoring barrage in the 65th minute after netting a pass from T.G. Miller for a 6-1 advantage.

McKitrick, thanks to an assist from Richard Bowman, netted a hat trick in the 67th minute — giving OVCS a commanding 7-1 lead.

Josh Lykins and Ethan Perry added late goals for Grace in the 77th and 79th minutes, wrapping up the 7-3 outcome. OVCS outshot the guests by a 21-9 margin, although Grace managed a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

Marshall Hood made six saves in earning the Defenders’ first win of the season, while Chris Harmony had 14 saves in net for Grace.