New Kent scores first against powerful Jamestown, but Eagles pull away

New Kent's Christian Lysek battles for the ball along the sideline with Jamestown's Sanjay Das (7).

Alan Chamberlain photo

New Kent’s host Trojans surprised perennial soccer powerhouse Jamestown with an early goal, placing the Eagles in the unaccustomed position of playing from behind.

But after struggling to deadlock the game and almost giving up another go-ahead goal to the Trojans, the Eagles scored five unanswered goals over a 15-minute span in the first half to pull away en route to a 10-2 win.

“We’re happy,” Trojan coach Keith Grant said concerning his team’s performance in Monday night’s clash. “Sometimes you play up to the level of the team you’re playing.”

Less than four minutes into the contest, New Kent’s Tyler Brightwell drove a shot into the chest of Eagle goalie Vinny Stumpo. The Eagle keeper failed to control the ball that bounced toward Jonathan Bottoms who hammered a shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later, however, the Eagles’ Jeff Wolons evened the affair. Shortly after Wolons’ score, New Kent’s Joey Clark came close to putting the Trojans back in front, but his shot from in front of the Eagle goal sailed high. Unfortunately for the hosts, Clark’s shot would be the Trojans’ last of the half.

New Kent’s defense held off the Eagles until the 22-minute mark when Kevin Tripp got past Trojan defenders for an open shot past keeper Justin Cox. After that, Eagle scores came often as the visitors opened a 6-1 lead at the half.

“[Jamestown] is a well-rehearsed team. Their players are on club teams that play year-round,” Grant said, commenting on the Eagles’ soccer prowess.

Nate Cook recorded New Kent’s second goal, drilling a shot into the net at the 29-minute mark of the second half.

For the match, the Eagles managed a 31-6 edge in shots. Cox recorded 10 saves for the Trojans.