CHESAPEAKE CITY — Like so many of the Trojans’ scoring chances Friday, this one appeared to have been a near-miss that resulted in a loss of possession.
But keen-eyed Mali Wirth, one of six freshmen playing varsity field hockey for Kent County High School, saw something that other players packed into the scoring circle missed.
And she acted on that observation.
The result was what held up as the winning goal in the 2-1 final at Bo Manor.
Senior captain Kate Cannon, who netted the Trojans’ first goal, was credited with the assist on Wirth’s tally that broke a 1-1 tie with 8 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
“Kate shot the ball and it hit the post,” Wirth told The Evening Enterprise in a text message Saturday. “While everyone thought it went out, I saw the ball and an open window for a shot so I took it.”
She added, “It feels incredible to score a goal as a freshman on a varsity team!”
Youthful Kent County — 12 of the 14 players are underclassmen — came from behind to post their first win of 2024.
In just one game, they matched their goal total of the previous nine games and their goal total of the entire 2023 campaign.
They also avenged a pair of losses that bookended last year, 4-1 in the opener and 3-0 in the playoffs.
“Honestly, it’s the best we’ve played all season. We made our spaces. We went to the ball,” Cannon said in an interview on the sidelines immediately after the game.
And the win, after a lengthy slump?
“Feels amazing. It makes me happy,” Cannon said.
Bo Manor (4-5) struck first, Laila Wilson slipping in behind the Kent County defense and then beating freshman keeper Abigail Strayer with 4:16 elapsed.
A defensive save from Liza Loller several minutes later kept it a 1-0 game.
Kent County went on the attack in the second quarter, earning penalty corners at 13:21, 7:51 and 4:12 and creating a scrum in front of the Bo Manor cage with less than two minutes to play before intermission — but still nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.
All that offensive pressure finally paid off with 20.3 seconds remaining in the first half when Cannon cashed in on a pass from freshman Abby Gallo to level the score at 1-apiece.
The host Eagles had the first scoring chance of the third quarter, but were unable to get off a shot after earning a penalty corner less than three minutes in. They also failed to capitalize one-on-one with Strayer with 2:47 remaining.
Kent County cashed in on its best chance, Wirth putting back Cannon’s shot that ricocheted off the post for the go-ahead goal — and what ultimately held up to be the game-winner.
Bo Manor had more chances, and better chances, over the final 15 minutes. Kent County’s defense led by co-captain Tess Fuchs and do-it-all Gallo wobbled at times, but did not fall.
Rylee Dayton was the Eagles’ chief threat in the fourth quarter. With just under 10 minutes to play, she carried the ball nearly the length of the field before being bottled up just outside the circle. Her shot with 8:46 to go clanked off the right post and another shot with 2:36 remaining was wide left.
Kent County’s freshman keeper Strayer also came up big with a pair of saves on penalty corners in the final three minutes.
NEXT UP: Kent County is home for the last time this season on Tuesday, Oct. 15 against Kent Island.
The regular-season finale is Thursday, Oct. 17 at North Caroline.
