Lady Trojans hold advantage in shots but not points in falling to Rams

New Kent's Faith Tyler (11) maneuvers the ball past a Lafayette defender.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Despite owning an edge in shots on goal, New Kent’s Lady Trojans could not convert that advantage into points. Lafayette’s visiting Rams, meanwhile, experienced better success, capitalizing on Baylee Gentry’s hat trick to post a 4-1 victory in Monday soccer.

New Kent out-shot the visitors 22-17, but Ram keeper Megan Roberts, who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, stood in the Lady Trojans’ way. She registered 15 saves.

“We had our opportunities, and I think we played pretty well,” said Lady Trojan coach Irene Bierie. “I told the girls at halftime that the game was winnable, but things just didn’t go our way.”

The first half appeared bound for a scoreless end, but all changed with six minutes left. Lafayette’s Alaina McKnight banked in a shot off the top of the goal, and with just over two minutes remaining, Gentry scored the first of her trio to open a 2-0 Ram lead.

New Kent, however, got back in the game 30 seconds later, thanks to a Ram handball violation in the box. The infraction led to Sydney Griffith’s penalty shot past Roberts to get the hosts back in the contest at halftime.

Shortly after play resumed, Griffith just missed on a chance to tie, driving an open shot high and wide of the Ram goal. Moments later, Roberts smothered a Zoe Wallace shot.

Ten minutes in, Gentry launched her second goal out of a crowd in front of the New Kent net. With 18 minutes to go, her third score put the contest out of reach.

New Kent keeper Sara Buchanan stopped seven Lafayette shots. The loss evened the hosts’ record at 6-6.