You have to win the close ones in soccer, and James River was able to do that with two one-goal wins in the span of four days.
Last Friday at Nelson County the Lady Knights took a 1-0 win over the Governors. After a scoreless first half the Knights came back to the field after the break continuing to control the game. Five minutes into the second period senior Kayla Myers finished off an assist from freshman Shea Hubbard for the only goal of the game.
James River continued to dominate, but some unlucky breaks and good goal keeping prevented any additional scoring as Nelson keeper Rylee Truslow had 25 saves. Kylee Aaron had three saves in the shutout for River.
On Monday the Knights were off to Rockbridge County where they took a 2-1 win over the Wildcats in overtime. The Knights dominated possession in the first half and kept the ball in the opponent’s end much of the time, but goals were illusive. It was Kayla Myers who opened the scoring 25 minutes into the first half assisted by sister Konner Myers. The Wildcats’ Madelyn Jones answered in the closing minute of the period to go into the break tied.
The tie held to the end of regulation. After a short break the exhausted players took to the field for two overtime periods. Midway through the first OT period Natalie Hughes made a strong run from the back line to combine with Ella Wright to score. Hughes’s goal decided the match and River is now 2-1 on the season.
The Knights will be back in action Monday when they host Nelson in a rematch of last Friday’s win.