Early scores seal win for Jamestown over Lady Trojans

New Kent’s Peyton Lilley (left) and Jamestown’s Lydia Ruffin (right) battle it out for the ball early in the first half.

Robb Johnson photo

After coming into the season on a winning streak, New Kent’s Lady Trojans field hockey team wavered on an even 6-6 record as they hosted a Jamestown Lady Eagles team that had dropped only two contests on the year. A slow start for the hosting Lady Trojans did them no favors during the Oct. 10 Bay Rivers District match.

Two quick goals by Jamestown provided enough distance as the visitors emerged with a 3-1 victory.

During the first penalty corner of the contest, Jamestown’s Sarah Falcone found the back of the net to provide an early advantage for the guests. Moments later, teammate Haley Flint powered home another score from a short distance to up the advantage to two merely 10 minutes into the contest, forcing New Kent to call a timeout.

Lady Trojan Matty Heath provided excitement to the home crowd as she had a one-on-one attempt with Jamestown goalie Hattie Baker. But Baker’s denial ultimately resulted in a swing of momentum just before the half as Falcone added goal number two just before the intermission break.

New Kent had five legitimate scoring chances on breakaway attempts in the second half. It wouldn’t be until Haylie Bayens short sprint to help the hosts find the scoreboard with 12:18 remaining in the half. Jamestown upped their defense, slowing down any additional scores by the hosts and ending the contest.

Despite the loss, Lady Trojans head coach Cristen Sickal offered words of encouragement to her team.

“The second half was a lot better and I am working with the girls on scoring or at least taking a shot with at least 20 seconds of that on a breakway,” she said. “That is what we need to work on. It’s our speed with the breakaways.

“Once we get the ball up there, we get frantic,” Sickal added. “We just need a little more stick work up there.”

New Kent falls to 6-7.