Photo by BRYANT ALTIZER
The James River girls advanced to the Region 2C semifinals with a win over Giles in soccer Monday night. The Knights took a 5-0 win in Springwood on Memorial Day.
“It was great to see the veterans acknowledged in the crowd and the National Anthem sounded somehow better as players and crowd remembered those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us,” said River coach Bill Smith.
The game was lively from the start. The Knights dominated possession for most of the first half, but the fast and talented strikers of Giles made a few real threats. Despite several shots on both goals, the game remained scoreless at the break.
Both teams huddled in the shade after 40 hard minutes in the hot sun. James River came out of the halftime with renewed energy, scoring twice in the opening two minutes. The first was from Kayla Myers, assisted by Myla Lester. The second was from Megan Hill, assisted by Stephanie Vasquez.
The game continued in similar pattern with James River possessing and attacking and Giles making threats on the counterattack. Myers finished a second time for River, this time assisted by Hill. Rachael Hix scored off an assist from Lester then Morgan Marshall converted from an Ella Wright assist to finish off the scoring for the game with 14 minutes remaining on the clock. Colleen Peery made 10 saves for the Knights.
The Knights will now travel to the Smith River Sports Complex in Martinsville tonight to face Appomattox in the Region 2C Semi Finals at 7:30 p.m. The winner clinches a spot in next week’s Class 2 state championship tournament.
