The James River soccer girls will be playing for a spot in the state tournament tonight when they take on Radford in the Region 2C semifinals. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Smith River Complex in Martinsville.

River comes in at 12-4 after thumping two opponents in the first two rounds of the regional. The Knights beat Bath County in Springwood last week, 12-1, then hammered Eastern Montgomery in Elliston on Monday, 13-4.

Radford, as always, will be a stiff test for the Knights. River’s game will follow a 6 p.m. game between Auburn and Appomattox, and the championship is at the Smith River Complex on Friday at 6 p.m. Both finalists advance to the state tournament.

River’s win over Bath last week was one-sided, as nine different Knights scored. Notable were goals from captain defender Tessa Jones and freshman midfielder Myla Lester, both their first of the season.

On Monday the Knights got a memorable win on Memorial Day. Eastern Montgomery scored the first goal of the game but after that it was all River.

Rachel Hix was first to answer 13 minutes into the contest, assisted by Megan Hill.  Then, 32 seconds later, Olivia Baker put the Knights ahead, finishing from a Brook Ford throw in. Ford converted a PK shortly after. Morgan Bryan finished off another Ford assist followed by two goals from freshman Morgan Marshall with assists from Hill and Grace Dye to complete the half at 6-1 for the Knights.

Hill Picked up two goals of her own in the opening minutes of the second half with assists from Kaitlyn McClung and Emma Butler. Catherine Amos followed with an unassisted goal, still inside the opening five minutes of the period. Baker converted her second with assist from Butler, McClung converted, assisted by Ford. Morgan Marshall completed a hat trick with an unassisted goal late in the half. The last goal of the match was scored by freshman Bridgette West, assisted by Morgan Bratton. This brings to 18 the number of goal scorers on a balanced James River squad.