Late goal propels Lady Trojans to 2-1 win over Packers

New Kent's Kelsey DeHart (9) battles for the ball with Smithfield's Lindsey Walker.

Alan Chamberlain photo

In a soccer clash that featured ample scoring opportunities for both teams plus a number of vicious tackles, New Kent’s Lady Trojans prevailed thanks to a late second half goal that averted overtime.

Lady Trojan Megan Evans punched in a close range shot out of a crowd following a Kristen Taylor corner kick to break a 1-1 deadlock and lift the hosts to a 2-1 victory over Smithfield’s Packers. Wednesday night’s decision lifted New Kent to a 7-4 record.

“We used a completely different setup from the front out tonight, and the girls stepped up and did a good job with the new lineup we were playing,” Lady Trojan coach Cathy Anderson said afterward.

“We really played well,” the coach went on. “I’m very pleased with the overall effort, and I’m quite proud of them.”

New Kent opened the scoring midway through the first half. Another Taylor corner kick found Rachel Byers perfectly positioned in front of the Packer goal for a shot past keeper Sarah Hancock and a 1-0 lead.

The margin stood up through halftime, but less than two minutes into the second half, the Packers’ Mikayla Dean took a pass from teammate Dekedre McGee and rolled a shot past Lady Trojan keeper Amanda Wood.

But other than the one shot that slipped past Wood, she was perfect in goal, stopping six Packer shots.

“Our keeper is stepping up and playing well,” Anderson said. “She’s fitting in nicely for a first-year player and I’m really pleased.”

New Kent’s offense, meanwhile, owned a 21-10 advantage in shots on goal although most of the efforts sailed high and wide. Hancock registered just four saves.

Evans’ game winning shot that rolled under the diving Hancock came with just under eight minutes left in regulation.

“The girls are learning and the younger ones are stepping up nicely and playing some really good soccer,” Anderson said. “I’m pleased.”