Jackets suffer first loss to Rocky Mount

By Mark Matthews
Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald

ROANOKE RAPIDS - After three straight wins to start the season, the Roanoke Rapids (3-1) soccer team suffered its first defeat, 4-0, at the hands of Rocky Mount Monday night, a team the Jackets beat one week earlier.  

“Every goal they scored we had a chance to make a play,” Roanoke Rapids coach Terry Frazier said. “We either had a bad touch or were a step slow. You can’t do that against a good team. We made those plays when we were down there last week, (1-0 win over Rocky Mount).”

Kasey Cooke, of Rocky Mount, scored the only goal in the first half booting a 20-yard direct kick into the net. Her shot skimmed off the top of the head of a Jacket defender before crossing the goal line.

The Gryphons nearly made it 2-0 with 20:33 left in the half. A Gryphon shot was deflected near the net by Marissa Ramsey, but Jacket keeper Ariel Potter was in position to make the stop.

Early in the second half Cooke got behind the Jacket defense and faced Potter one on one. The Roanoke Rapids sophomore came out of the net and stopped the Rocky Mount star before she could boot a shot at the goal.

Rocky Mount finally slipped another shot by Potter with 32:30 left in the contest. Evie Hunter had an open net after receiving a pass from a teammate and directed the ball into the goal for a 2-0 Gryphon lead.

The Lady Yellow  Jackets came within inches of cutting their two-goal deficit in half.

Jessie Scales sent a 25-yard blast on net. The shot was knocked straight up, bounced off the cross bar and didn’t cross the goal line. It was one of the few good chances Roanoke Rapids would have.

“They were a lot better defense then they were last week,” Frazier said.

Cooke scored her second goal with 24:47 remaining, then completed the hat trick scoring with 4:44 left in the contest.

The Jackets won their first three games without giving up a goal. Though Rocky Mount scored four times, Potter played well for the Jackets.

“She only got off line on one of their shots, Frazier said. “Once we fell behind by two goals, we opened up and that probably had a little to do with their last two scores. We weren’t playing not to lose. We were playing to win the game.”