Powerhouse Smithfield dominates New Kent in soccer match

New Kent's David Hernandez looks for a clearing to advance the ball down the field.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent’s boys’ soccer team continues struggling on the pitch, this time dropping a 5-0 contest to Bay Rivers powerhouse Smithfield on May 3.

The visiting Packers wasted no time scoring goals against the homestanding Trojans. One goal each by Brayden Bird, Ethan Braswell, and Nicholas O’Reilly provided Smithfield a comfortable 3-0 advantage at the intermission break. Two more goals by Packers’ forward Parker Caterbone accompanied by a shutout provided the final margin in the contest.

New Kent head coach Keith Grant said that the team is taking some lumps this year and hopes to build from it.

“New Kent is not known for soccer,” he said. “Right not, it’s the process that we are going through getting players who are soccer players and getting them to learn the game throughout the year.

“We are building a program here at New Kent,” Grant continued. “I am not measuring wins and losses because you will have failures along the way when building your program.

“We are a young team and the offseason will give the guys coming back a chance to work harder and improve themselves and the reputation of soccer at New Kent High School,” the head coach concluded.

New Kent has dropped nine consecutive games and now holds a record of 4-9.