Second half Smithfield goals break open defensive struggle with New Kent

New Kent's Joey Clark (5) breaks through the holding attempt by Smithfield's Clayton Ippolito to get to the ball.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Defense kept New Kent’s host Trojans close for most of their soccer match with Smithfield. But the Packers used a pair of second half goals to create breathing room on the way to a 3-0 Friday evening win.

Smithfield opened a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest on a shot by Clayton Ippolito that rolled under the save attempt by Trojan keeper Justin Cox. The teams then battled to a stalemate over the next 51 minutes before the Packers upped their advantage to 2-0 nearing the second half’s 26-minute mark. The visitors added their third goal with five minutes left to play.

“[Smithfield] only earned one goal,” Trojan coach Keith Grant said afterward. “Two goals were off our goalie and they picked up the garbage, but that’s what they’re supposed to do.”

Grant said two starters (Josiah Schlosser and Josue Benitez) missed the contest, forcing some lineup juggling. “I did some creative substituting,” he added.

And the remaining starters plus subs faced a Packer offense that managed a 22-9 advantage in shots. Cox stopped 11 shots while Packer keepers Cameron Wheeler and Alex Cline combined for three saves.

“We have some really fast guys back there on defense who can run down the ball,” Grant said, praising his defense’s effort.

“On offense, we had good ball movement tonight,” he said. “We just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

After Smithfield took its early 1-0 lead, New Kent’s best opportunity to tie occurred with just over four minutes to go in the first half. Nate Cook slipped past defenders for an open shot in the box but drove the ball wide right of the Packer goal.

The decision dropped New Kent to 2-5-1.