Lady Trojans fall in conference tournament opening round

New Kent's Samantha Emana (right) drives the ball past Spotsylvania's Sophie Sperry.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Spotsylvania’s sixth-seeded Knights managed a single shot against New Kent’s host Lady Trojans, the third seeds in the Conference 25 field hockey tournament. But that was all the visitors needed.

The Knights’ Abby Harris raced past New Kent defenders to punch that lone shot into the Lady Trojan goal. The score, coming just past the first half’s midpoint, stood up the rest of the way, handing Spotsylvania a 1-0 win that eliminated the hosts in Monday night’s opening round.

“We fought hard, and we knew it would be close,” said Lady Trojan coach Matt Duckworth. “But it came down to a mistake I made. I substituted at the wrong time and [the Knights] were able to get behind us.”

New Kent defenders hesitated as six Knights mounted an attack with only three Lady Trojans in position to challenge. Harris fired the game-winner before the hosts could recover.

Absent for much of the opening half, New Kent’s offense stepped up after the break. Back-to-back flurries with under 17 minutes to go led to a pair of shot opportunities, but the Knights repelled both.

And despite the Knights down one player over the final five minutes, New Kent could not capitalize, including off a last second penalty corner as time wound down. The outcome ended the Lady Trojans’ season at 7-9.

“We just couldn’t close,” Duckworth said. “I told the girls that from where it started to where it ended this season, I saw a lot of growth. I felt we were in a lot more games this year than in years past.”