Bethel’s Belma Tihic scores 50th, 51st goals of season in girls soccer victory over Hampton

HAMPTON — When watching a Bethel High School girls soccer game, you’ll often hear opposing players yelling out a cautionary “watch No. 7!”

That “No. 7” is Bethel junior Belma Tihic, who despite her opponents’ best efforts, is rarely guardable.

On Thursday afternoon, Tihic scored her 50th and 51st goals of the season and helped the Bruins beat Hampton 2-1. Based on her reaction, though, you could tell those goals were expected — the norm even.

“Obviously, I’m happy,” Tihic said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity.”

Tihic’s 51 goals this year are the most of any player in Virginia, based on stats available on MaxPreps and reported to The Pilot. This comes after she scored 46 goals last year, which was good enough for third in the state in scoring, per MaxPreps.

“It’s outstanding; how many people scored 50 goals in a season?” Bethel head coach William Nicoletti said. “She’s got 127 or something for her three seasons that she’s here. I think it’s amazing.”

Indeed, in three years at Bethel, Tihic has scored 127 goals, which would place her at No. 14 in the Virginia High School League’s record book for most goals in a career. Tihic credits her success to her teammates as well as just being in the right spot.

“The team helping me out, the flow of the game — it’s all about hard work, dedication and consistency,” Tihic said.

Thursday’s game was just the latest in a stretch of games Tihic has scored multiple times. She has scored at least one goal in 13 games this season and more than once in 11 games.

Tihic has recorded at least a hat trick — three goals in a game — in eight contests this season and on four different occasions, she’s recorded a double hat trick.

On top of that, on two separate occasions this season, Tihic has scored seven goals in a game. Her career high is eight goals in a game, which she set during her freshman year against Hampton. That tied her for second in the VHSL record book.

“Belma is very aware of the game,” Nicoletti said. “She knows the game very well and is very aware of what’s going on and she puts herself in the position to score where she can make those runs. We try to play it to her, through balls or out to the corner, whatever works for her and she runs on to them. She does a great job for us.”

Tihic has found ways to outdo her own achievements each year in high school. She scored 30 goals her freshman year and broke the previous Bethel school record. Last season, her sophomore year, she broke her record with 46 goals. Now, she’s passed the 50 mark with playoff games still on deck. Outside of her scoring, she said she’s most proud of her speed.

“I feel like overall as a player, I grew everywhere,” Tihic said. “Like passing-wise, shooting wise …just overall.”

Tihic said she’s modeled her game and work ethic after soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo. She dons the same jersey number as Ronaldo and can be found doing his signature goal celebration after she scores.

Bethel wrapped up its regular season with a 10-5-1 record thanks to Thursday’s win. Tihic is already looking ahead and is confident the Bruins will be a team to look out for in the future.

“All I gotta say is to be on the lookout next year,” Tihic said.

Michael Sauls, (757) 803-5774, michael.sauls@virginiamedia.com