Lady Trojans lack offensive punch, drop 1-0 decision

Lack of offense on the part of New Kent’s Lady Trojans proved costly as Hampton Roads Academy’s visiting Navigators used a lone second half goal to post a 1-0 field hockey win.

New Kent got off only four shots in the Sept. 23 contest. HRA, meanwhile, managed just 10, but only one was needed to decide the issue.

Ten minutes into the second half, HRA’s Marnie Blalock punched in the game winner. Then with four minutes remaining and her offense sputtering, Lady Trojan coach Julie Ellis called time in an attempt to fire up her squad with a pep talk.

“They were being lazy and not going after the ball. They were just letting it sit there,” she said. “I wanted them to be proactive instead of reactive.”

But the hosts were unable to penetrate the HRA defense the rest of the way, falling to 1-7 on the season.

New Kent registered just one first half shot that was stopped by Navigator keeper Missy Flowe. Shortly after the break, Lady Trojan Caroline Evelyn unleashed a shot, forcing Flowe to make a diving save. After Blalock scored, Flowe stopped another Evelyn shot, and an effort to tie by Melanie McNew caromed off the side of the HRA goal.

New Kent keeper Maryon Wood stopped 10 HRA shots. She prevailed just before the half in a one-on-one challenge when the Navigators’ Tori Gessner managed an open shot.

“Maryon had some real good saves, and Megan Kettle played well on defense,” Ellis said. “This was a game we could have won if we had done what we were supposed to do.”