WORTON — Senior striker Morgan Kendall scored one goal and assisted on another as Kent County held off visiting North Dorchester, 2-1, in varsity girls soccer Sept. 11.
Junior Delilah Markovic netted what held up to be the game-winning goal — off the helper from Kendall — in the 65th minute to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead.
North Dorchester cut the deficit in half in the 74th minute and had chances to pull even, but Kent County’s defense clamped down and there was some quality goalkeeping from rookie Sophie Cousineau, who finished with seven saves.
“We’ve tried to emphasize our defense this year and we’ve put a lot of time into working on both individual defensive skills and team defensive formations,” coach Ben Joiner wrote in an email to The Evening Enterprise. “The girls are doing a tremendous job of being patient on defense, maintaining their shape and supporting one another through their positioning. When they know that the team has their backs it gives the defenders the confidence to stay aggressive.”
This was the first home match of 2024 for the Trojans, who were kept off the board in their season opener Sept. 6 at Cambridge-South Dorchester.
Kendall, on an assist from junior Mary Jane Joiner, scored the Trojans’ first goal of the season in the 60th minute.
Kent County was 0-2 last year against North Dorchester, outscored by a total count of 7-1.
“The team, as a whole, is putting all they’ve got into every game,” coach Joiner said.
He singled out the play of fullbacks Savanna Reynolds and Reese Strong in the win; both are playing high school soccer for the first time.
Also earning high marks were center backs Mary Jane Joiner and Paige Miller and midfielders Markovic, Jane Cleary and Emy Karlik.
Coaches Joiner and Joel Tolbert have been tinkering with the attack, looking for the best combinations, and so far Kendall at striker and junior Zuleika Nava on the wing are working especially well together.
“We’re getting much much better on the wings as a few of the less-experienced players learn the high school game,” Ben Joiner said.
He noted that freshmen Madison Garcia and Kayla Aguilar, who joined the team earlier in the week, have had an immediate impact. That also goes for Ashlynn Elborn, another freshman.
“The younger players are starting to understand how physical the high school level can be and they are rising to meet that challenge,” Joiner said in the email. “As a coach, you love to see them not backing down. You love to see that fire.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Kent County is home twice this week: Monday, Sept. 16 against Crisfield and Wednesday, Sept. 18 against border rival Queen Anne’s. Both matches begin at 4 p.m.
Queen Anne’s is the defending North Bayside Conference champion.