Lady Scots battle Norfolk Christian

LAURINBURG — It was a blustery day on the pitch as the Lady Scots soccer team hosted Norfolk Christian out of Virginia on Friday evening.

It was a varsity only afternoon as the two teams played under the lights with the sun disappearing behind the trees the field an orange tint until the lights took over.

The high winds didn’t stop the Lady Scots from having good ball movement up and down the field. The young team trailed the Ambassadors 1-0 after the first half.

The Ambassadors scored on a breakaway goal, after senior goalie Anna Griswold dove to try and stop the ball. Griswold returned the goal after suffering an injury earlier in the week. She had three saves in the first half as the Lady Scots defense improved towards the end of the half.

The Lady Scots were still bunched together and getting in each others way during the first 20 minutes of the first half. In the final 15 minutes the Lady Scots finally got the ball on their side of the field and had four chances at the goal but came up short each time.

Sophomore Beatrice Eddy and senior Emma Gray Beacham both had great shots at the goal, but the Norfolk Christian goalie was a wall. Beacham closed out the first half with a free kick from the right side and pulled the ball wide right of the goal.

The Lady Scots opened the second half with a good defensive stand against a corner kick from Norfolk Christian. The Lady Scots had a shot at the goal at the 32 minute mark in the second half and just missed the net.

The two teams battled defensively throughout the first part of the second half. The Lady Scots tied the game at the 15-minute mark after a breakaway run by Eddy led to a penalty kick goal by Beacham.

With just under five minutes to play Norfolk Christian began their offensive assault, but were unsuccessful each time as Griswold picked up three moves saves — the last one being a game-saver with 15 seconds left on the clock.

The Lady Scots move to 0-1-2 overall this season and Norfolk Christian moves to 0-0-1.

The team is back in action Monday when they host Gray’s Creek at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Scots open Southeastern conference play on Wednesday, March 15 at home against Purnell Swett that game is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m.

Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.

Amber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The Lady Scots Beatrice Eddy (38) almost scored two goals in the first half of Friday’s game against Norfolk Christian. Eddy helped set up the Lady Scots only goal of the night in the second half. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, the second tie game in a row for the Lady Scots.

https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_IMG_9583.jpgAmber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The Lady Scots Beatrice Eddy (38) almost scored two goals in the first half of Friday’s game against Norfolk Christian. Eddy helped set up the Lady Scots only goal of the night in the second half. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, the second tie game in a row for the Lady Scots.

Amber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The Lady Scots Emily Stevens fights for the ball on Friday against a Norfolk Christian defender. The Lady Scots open Southeastern conference play on Wednesday, March 15 at home against Purnell Swett that game is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m.

https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_IMG_9535.jpgAmber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange The Lady Scots Emily Stevens fights for the ball on Friday against a Norfolk Christian defender. The Lady Scots open Southeastern conference play on Wednesday, March 15 at home against Purnell Swett that game is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m.