The James River girls soccer team hosted Amherst County on a beautiful sunny day, but soggy field last Wednesday and took an 8-0 win.

Team captain Brook Ford scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, assisted by Emma Butler and Tessa Jones to set the tone for the game. Kendra Peery finished unassisted with 25 minutes left in the half, followed by Kaitlyn McClung, assisted by Abby Wentworth. Jones, a center back, converted a PK with 13 minutes left in the half and Megan Hill completed the scoring for the half in the closing minutes, assisted by Morgan Bryan, to give River a 6-0 lead at intermission.

Center backs Blair Grim and Tessa Jones switched to strikers in the second half, both converting for the remaining goals. Colleen Peery had an easy first half with three saves and Meaghan Hix took charge of the goal for the Knights in the second half, logging four saves.

On Thursday at home the Knights took their second 8-0 win of the week, this time over Giles. Again the Lady Knights took control of the game early and never looked back.

The opening moments were a textbook demonstration of fast paced, precision soccer.  Team captain Sarah Harris started the scoring for the Knights, finishing a corner kick from Kendra Peery 10 minutes into the match. A minute later Butler finished with an assist from McClung, and at the midpoint of the half Ford made her own space, finishing unassisted to put the Knights up by three.

Hill, subbing in with 20 minutes remaining in the half, scored in her first minute of play and assisted two more goals, from McClung and Oliva Baker, all in her first five minutes on the field. McClung scored her second goal with 12 minutes remaining in the half.

In the second half the James River team continued to dominate the game in the middle but did not score until late, as the rain clouds were gathering. McClung finished her second hat trick of the season with a late goal to finish the match early at 8-0.

James River returns to play with an away game at district rival Radford tonight, May 3.