Lightning halts soccer match at 0-0

West Point’s Jeff Guerrant climbs the back of NK’s Eric Gilchrist as both go for a header.

Alan Chamberlain photo

New Kent’s Trojans looked to sweep their soccer series with West Point last Friday night, but Mother Nature intervened. Lightning from a rapidly approaching line of thunderstorms halted play just 90 seconds into the second half.

A 0-0 tie existed at stoppage, and that’s how the official result reads. New Kent’s record stands at 5-3-1.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Trojan coach Clinton Leckie said his team bounced back from a dismal outing the night before.

“We played a lot better tonight, and I saw more intensity,” he said.

“Last night was not good,” he added, pointing to an 8-0 setback at the hands of Jamestown.

New Kent had its opportunities to place the West Point affair in the win column. A pair of Gunner Gilland direct free kicks landed in the hands of Pointer keeper Cody Davis.

Gilland also narrowly missed an assist when teammate Nate Cook could not catch up to a pass centered in front of the Pointer goal.

A third free kick off the foot of Gilland set up Matt Thomas for a high percentage shot, but the ball sailed just wide of the goal. Cook’s header off a corner kick midway through the first half also drifted wide.

Trojan keeper Jay Barbour stopped two West Point shots on goal to preserve the tie.