Grafton scores off two penalty corners in second half, upends New Kent 3-1

New Kent’s Anna Hetzel (left) tries to intercept the progress of a Grafton player during a breakaway in the second half.

Robb Johnson photo

Two second half scores from penalty corners proved to be difference-makers as New Kent’s Lady Trojans struggled against the Grafton Lady Clippers on Sept. 19.

New Kent fell 3-1 in the Bay Rivers District contest, dropping the team’s record to an even 4-4 on the year.

After a scoreless first quarter, Grafton would punch in the first score as Ashlyn Blackburn’s shot found the back of the net for the visitors. The Lady Trojans responded just over a minute later, as a penalty corner set up Olivia Allen’s goal to tie the game at one. The score would remain the same heading into halftime.

But New Kent’s stamina in the muggy conditions proved to factor in the second half of play, as the hosts committed costly errors. Their first mistake came at the nine-minute mark in the third quarter, as Grafton was rewarded with a penalty corner. The Lady Clippers capitalized, as Savannah Cherry scored. The second came at the beginning of the fourth quarter, with Taylor Secrist scoring off a penalty corner of her own, upping the visitors’ advantage to 3-1, a score that would stand until the conclusion of the contest.

New Kent Lady Trojans’ Head Coach Cristen Sickal spoke about her team’s moral in the second half after mental fatigue factored into the contest.

“We played well in the first half, not so much in the second half,” she commented. “We got three cards in one quarter that we earned, and it ruined morale.

“We have a tough game coming up [against Jamestown] and we have some injuries that we need to get fixed,” Sickal concluded.