BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@tidewaternews.com

COURTLAND—The Southampton Academy soccer team improved to 5-0 on the season, after winning a close 1-0 game against Windsor High School Wednesday.

“This was a special game with outstanding play,” said SA Coach Jamie Weist. “It was one of the best total games that our team has played this season.”

The Dukes, who lost 3-1 to SA earlier in the season on March 14, are now 1-2 on the season.

“It was a close game,” said Windsor Coach J.D. Turner. “We are just still trying to rebuild from last year. Every game counts to us, but we are trying to put it together before districts.”

With 15 shots on goal, the Raiders were not able to score until 17 minutes into the second half, when junior Johnny Tribbett scored the game’s only goal. This is his 10th of the season.

“We had several opportunities to score during the game,” Weist said. “Many times the ball struck the crossbar – we just couldn’t quite fit it in. We got a break in the second half and Johnny tucked one in.”

Raider sophomore goalie Travis O’Bryant had six saves on the day.

“Being a first year keeper, kudos to him for just keeping his composure during the game and especially making some big saves,” Weist said

Freshman Seth Edwards had an assist for the Raiders.

Weist said it is a great feeling to start the season undefeated.

“Its a special start to a special season,” he said

The Raiders will next host Fuqua School at 4 p.m., Friday, March 22, in Courtland.

“We are looking forward to Friday and possibly making it 6-0, but Fuqua is a tough team and it’ll be a good game,” Weist said.

The Dukes will next travel to Mathews High School at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 25.

In action from Tuesday

BLACKSTONE—The Raiders defeated the Kenston Forest School Cavaliers 4-1 in a Virginia Commonwealth Conference games Tuesday in Blackstone.

The Cavaliers, 2012 VCC champions, controlled much of the first half of the game, but the Raiders were able to enter halftime with a 1-0 lead after junior Johnnie Tribbett scored on a penalty kick.

In the second half, the Raiders dominated with Tribbett scoring an additional goal and sophomore Russell Ballance adding two more. Junior Colin Swenson had three assists, two from corner kicks, during the game.