New Kent beats odds in 3-2 soccer win over Nansemond River

New Kent’s Owen Vask (left) shields off a Nansemond River defender while taking control of the ball.

Robb Johnson photo

Sometimes the best way to determine a team’s true will power is to throw them into a situation where they have to overcome the odds. That was the case for New Kent’s Trojans in Friday night’s boys’ soccer contest.

Despite having only 10 players on the field due to an early ejection, New Kent battled back to a 3-2 victory over the Nansemond River Warriors.

Early in the contest, New Kent goalkeeper Lucas Bassetti was hit with a red card, resulting in his ejection from the game. But despite being down a player, the Trojans were the first to score as Tyler Amos converted a goal. That score would hold up until the halftime break with the hosts ahead 1-0.

In the second half after an early score by the visitors, Nansemond River’s Olu Olugbemi put his team in front as he converted a free kick over the arms of New Kent backup goalkeeper Tayten Hybiak.

As momentum sided with the visitors, New Kent was able to knot the game up at two apiece as Conner Bailey scored with 17 minutes remaining in the contest.

It wouldn’t take too much longer for the hosts to take the lead. A senior-to-senior connection from Daniel Meyer’s throw-in to teammate Mickel Prince set up the next goal 35 seconds later for the hosts. Nansemond Rivers could not capitalize on the numbers game, watching as time expired on their chance to win the contest.

After the game, New Kent Head Coach Derek Yates talked about his club’s performance.

“We went into halftime up 1-0 and my plan was just to hold them,” he said. “After they scored and then went up 2-1, I told the boys to keep their heads up.

“Low and behold, we tie it up and then go up by one,” Yates added. “We played so well and you wouldn’t have known we had ten men on the field. Everyone stepped it up and that is what it’s going to take us to many wins this season.”

New Kent’s record improves to 2-0 on the year.