HURLOCK — Freshman Amelia Ritchie almost single-handedly carried Kent County across the finish line in its most recent high school girls soccer match.
Ritchie netted a second-half hat trick Sept. 11 at North Dorchester, though ultimately the Trojans came up short in their comeback bid.
All three Ritchie goals were unassisted, including one when she alertly put back the rebound of her own shot.
The Trojans trailed 3-0 at halftime, and would go on to lose, 4-3.
North Dorchester scored what held up as the game-winner off a direct kick that sailed over a wall of defenders and over the head of Kent’s keeper, before landing in the back of the net.
Coach Ben Joiner said the Trojans (0-2) came out “super aggressive on offense,” leaving big gaps in the midfield, which North Dorchester’s girls exploited.
“We gave them a couple of easy shots on goal,” Joiner said.
The Trojans made adjustments at halftime, and finished much stronger than they started, according to Joiner.
He complimented the Trojans’ resiliency, while acknowledging that “we’re still trying to find the right combinations of players.”
