Role reversal: New Kent on winning streak in soccer

New Kent defenders Nate Cook (9) and Ben Johnston (2) challenge as King William’s Harris Dandridge launches a header toward the goal. Trojan keeper Jay Barbour stopped the shot.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Last season, New Kent’s Trojans failed to win a soccer game. Only a lone tie prevented the record from reflecting a complete goose egg.

But what a difference a year makes.

The host Trojans spotted King William’s Cavaliers an early goal, but shut out the invaders the rest of the way for a 3-1 victory in the teams’ March 15 encounter. Coupled with earlier triumphs at West Point and at home over Varina, the Trojans are undefeated at 3-0.

“We’ve already beaten last year’s record big time,” said New Kent coach Clinton Leckie. “This was a good win for us tonight since King William’s got a good team, and I’m glad to be on the winning end for a change.”

Less than four minutes into the contest, the Cavaliers’ Joe Silver opened the scoring, but New Kent answered four minutes later on Gunner Gilland’s goal off a Nishan Moomjian throw-in.

With under six minutes remaining in the first half, Moomjian put the hosts ahead to stay on a rolling shot that caromed off the left goal upright and past diving Cavalier keeper Cole Lipscomb.

Matt Thomas contributed an insurance goal for the Trojans, drilling a shot under Lipscomb’s diving save attempt at the 19-minute mark of the second half.

New Kent’s defense, meanwhile, took care of the rest. After surrendering the first Cavalier goal, Trojan keeper Jay Barbour recorded 15 saves. Leckie, meanwhile, credited the defensive effort of the players in front of Barbour.

“We have one freshman [Darren McCaughan], two sophomores [Josiah Schlosser, Joey Clark], and one senior [Ben Johnston] who are doing a great job,” Leckie said. “Usually you have to ask players to play defense, but these players want to play defense.”

The Trojans still have early season rematches with King William and West Point and host Essex. They also have a mid-season date at Varina.

“I’ve told our guys that we’ve got to win these out of district matches before we get into [Bay Rivers],” he said. “We’re right on track, so far.”