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Maggie Walker's Amarachi Eseonu (left) and Hermitage's Kelsey Pardue led both offenses.
DigitalSports Richmond
Kelsey Pardue scored two goals within five minutes of each other in the first half to lead Hermitage to a 2-1 victory over Maggie Walker GS on a rainy, soggy, cold Thursday night.
Her first was improbable. Dribbling on the right side fending off a Green Dragon, Pardue put up a high floater that found the left side of the net. Panthers 1-0.
Pardue wasn't done. Energized by the previous score, Hermitage kept the pressure on Maggie Walker and quickly got the ball back on the offensive end.
Pardue manuevered on the left side of the field this time, crossing by a defender and scoring on the right side of the goal this time.
"Our game was awesome," said Pardue, who has scored three goals in the past two games. "Our midfield spread out wide so we could penetrate more to the middle and have a lot more shots on goal. Our defense just stuck it out the whole game and we took it to them."
The Green Dragons didn't fold as Kelly Diaz scored minutes after Pardue's second goal. But Maggie Walker, ranked eighth in the DigitalSports Top 10, wouldn't scratch anymore.
Both teams had several opportunities, including a bushel of free and corner kicks, but couldn't convert.
Hermitage's defense, led by the strong-legged Melissa Davis and Kristi Richardson, and keeper Jessica Willkomm, were up to the task.
Hermitage 2 0 - 2
MWGS 1 0 - 1
H: Pardue 2
MWGS: Diaz
Records: Hermitage (3-0); Maggie Walker GS (1-1)
