The girls opened with a win but the boys were defeated as the James River soccer teams opened the season at Glenvar Monday. The boys lost 3-0 in the opener, followed by a 3-1 girls’ win in the nightcap on the first soccer games on Glenvar’s artificial turf.
“It was a very nice upgrade to their facilities,” said River girls coach Bill Smith of the new turf, which was ready last spring but no games were played. “I thought the Knights came on strong after an extended break from the game.”
Ella Wright converted off a Kayla Myers corner kick with 11 minutes left in the half to open the scoring. Glenvar’s Giuliana Stanley answered with five minutes remaining after a rapid fire flurry of close quarters shots and goal line defense and the tie held to the halftime break.
The boys opened the doubleheader and Glenvar got off to a good start, scoring three times in the first 15 minutes. River would settle down after that but the early deficit was too much to overcome.
“A year off from soccer showed tonight,” said Knights coach Jared Whiting. “The first 15 minutes we were muscled off the ball and was just out played across the board. From that point on we stepped up and played physical soccer and moved the ball well. We didn’t execute well in the final third of the field but consistently got the ball there. Take away the beginning of the game and it was a tight game.”
Both teams have their home openers tonight against Alleghany with the girls at 5:30 p.m. and the boys to follow at 7 p.m.
“We have some hard work to do before Thursday’s game but feel these guys are up the challenge,” said Whiting. “I think we will see a different game come from them. We have a lot of talent and desire so it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
