Lady Trojans lose heartbreaker

New Kent’s Lilli Schrijber unleashes a shot that Smithfield’s Bailey Dellins attempts to block. Dellins failed in her blocking attempt, but the shot sailed wide of the Packer goal.

Alan Chamberlain photo

A Senior Night celebration for New Kent’s Lady Trojans turned sour as first they lost a key player to injury and then they dropped a 2-1 decision to Smithfield’s invading Packers.

The May 3 encounter marked the final home appearance for the Lady Trojans, but matters did not begin well for the hosts. The Packers took a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the contest and seemed in complete control when Casey Smak looped a corner kick into the Lady Trojan net for a 2-0 advantage.

But the hosts battled back before the break. With less than two minutes remaining, Ashley Pierce drilled a shot past Packer keeper Katelyn Tucker to get New Kent back in the game.

In the second half, Tucker stopped Lilli Schrijber’s open shot that would have deadlocked the match. Moments later, another Lady Trojan shot caromed off the top of the Packer goal.

With 12 minutes to play, Schrijber sustained a blow to the face that knocked her out of the contest. The incident, however, led to a penalty kick that could have forced overtime, but Caitlin McCaughan’s shot was covered by Tucker.

The hosts had two more chances to prolong the match in the waning minutes, but Tucker stopped one shot and a direct free kick sailed wide.

“We had a lot of opportunities, but the ball just didn’t go in,” said Lady Trojan coach Kathy Anderson, whose team fell to 2-5 in Bay Rivers District and 7-5 overall. “Other than not finishing, we played very, very well.”