Lady Trojans outlast Essex, post 6-4 soccer triumph

New Kent's Kristen Taylor (13) wins the race to the ball with Essex's Rachel McMahon.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Sparked by Sara Ward’s hat trick, New Kent’s Lady Trojans built a comfortable halftime lead, but then had to hold off a second half Essex rally on the way to a 6-4 soccer win Wednesday night.

Ward scored two of New Kent’s four first half goals, helping the hosts build a 4-1 advantage at the break. New Kent’s defense, meanwhile, limited the visiting Trojans to a mere three shots on goal.

“The girls are getting better and passing better,” said New Kent coach Barry Rountree, whose team improved to 5-4-1. “They were a little tired after last night’s 5-5 tie in overtime at Poquoson, but they’re looking better.”

Five minutes into the Essex contest, Ward put the hosts in front to stay. She picked up a carom off Essex keeper Madison Bates, the result of a blistering shot off the foot of Sydney Griffith, and blasted the ball into an open net.

Another five minutes passed before New Kent’s Aubrie Cook hammered home the second of two straight shots to open a 2-0 advantage.

Essex answered 30 seconds later with the first of Ziyah Smith’s three goals on the night, but Ward managed to get a foot on a Kristen Taylor corner kick at the 14-minute mark, nudging the ball past Bates for a 3-1 lead.

Eight minutes before intermission, Zoe Wallace drove an open shot into the net, creating New Kent’s 4-1 halftime margin. The hosts launched 13 first half shots.

Less than a minute into the second half, New Kent extended its lead to 5-1 as Hannah Gilland punched in a shot out of a crowd in front of the Essex goal. But between the 22- and 24-minute mark, the visitors scored two quick goals, narrowing the gap to 5-3.

“We had our subs in at that time,” Rountree said. “They had me a little worried there, but I wasn’t too concerned about it.”

Ward lofted a shot over the Essex defense to build the lead back to three. Smith scored her third goal with 11 minutes to play, but New Kent’s defense did not allow another shot the rest of the way.

New Kent keeper Sara Buchanan, occupying the goal in the first half, stopped three Essex shots. Her second half replacement, Talia Hohman, managed one save. For the match, New Kent maintained a 20-8 shot advantage.

New Kent’s JV, meanwhile, won its first match of the season, topping Essex 2-0 behind goals from Teresa Hohman and Madison Williams.