Lady Trojans end regular season with 3-0 soccer shutout

Sydney Griffth clears a Colonial Heights corner kick out of the New Kent goal area before Colonial attackers can arrive while teammates (from left) Jennifer Critz, keeper Sara Buchanan, Paxton Rountree, and Haley Grisbaum (behind Griffith) look to help.

Alan Chamberlain photo

New Kent’s defense only allowed eight Colonial Heights shots while the Lady Trojan offense made good on three of 11 attempts. In the end, the host Lady Trojans closed out the soccer regular season Thursday night with a 3-0 shutout of the Colonials.

New Kent advances to Conference 25 tournament play on Monday when they will host Poquoson in a first round match at 5 p.m. The Lady Trojans enter tourney play with a 7-6 record.

“We played well,” New Kent coach Irene Bierie said, pointing to Thursday’s outcome that avenged an early season loss at Colonial Heights.

“I’ve seen them play better, but it was good enough tonight to win this game,” she added. “We’ll be ready for [Poquoson] on Monday.”

The Lady Trojans dropped a 2-1 decision to Poquoson on May 9.

Against Colonial Heights, the hosts broke through just past the first half’s midpoint on Kristen Taylor’s cross to Faith Tyler. Perfectly positioned in front of the Colonial goal, Tyler blasted a shot past keeper Kathryn Davis.

With only seconds remaining in the half, a Colonial defender shoved New Kent’s Mason Benet, leading to a direct free kick. From 30 yards out, Sydney Griffith’s shot sailed over Davis’ head for a 2-0 halftime advantage.

Tyler recorded her second goal just over six minutes into the second half. Her looping shot from the right side carried over Davis to close out the scoring.

Working in goal in the first half, Lady Trojan keeper Sara Buchanan stopped one Colonial shot. Her replacement, Talia Hohman, pounced on two after the break. Davis, meanwhile, managed two saves.