The Lord Botetourt and James River soccer teams were scheduled to go head-to-head Tuesday as the paper went to press. Both teams came into the game with 1-0 records.

Botetourt did not play last week, as the girls were rained out of a game with Christiansburg in their only scheduled contest. River was able to open the season Friday at home against Nelson County, and the Knights took an 8-2 win in an impressive debut performance.

River came on strong in the first minutes of this season opener, scoring two goals in the first three minutes. Kaitlyn McClung converted an assist from Catherine Amos to start the scoring. Amos followed up with a goal of her own a minute later off an assist from fellow captain Brook Ford. McClung finished again with 27 minutes in the half off another Ford assist, then  Megan Hill scored at the midpoint of the half, assisted by goal keeper Colleen Peery.

The game settled down a little, with the visiting Governors finding some flow and a few offensive chances. Nelson County’s Kate Strong converted a PK and Mackenzie Ladd finished on a brilliant break away shot late in the half to make the score 4-2 in favor of River at the break.

The Knights came out strong again in the second half. Hill scored two more in the first 10 minutes with assists from Ford and McClung. Olivia Baker scored unassisted at the midpoint of the half and freshman Sophie Wagner completed the scoring for the Knights with seven minutes left on the clock.

After Tuesday’s intra-county game both schools are hoping to play again Thursday, as the Knights are at Northside and LB is at Franklin County.