Burley scores Amherst's only goal

The Amherst girls soccer team took a 1-0 lead on a goal scored by Hannah Burley in the first minute of the Lancers’ Seminole District match against visiting Rustburg, but the Red Devils scored four unanswered goals to pick up a 4-1 victory.

“I was hoping (Burley’s goal) would get us off to a good start, but we had breakdowns,” said Amherst coach Ronda Heeman. “We didn’t communicate well on defense and we didn’t play to the best that I know we can play.”

The Lancers’ defense struggled at times by chasing players or the ball and leaving gaping holes in their back lines that Rustburg (2-2, 1-1 Seminole) exploited.

The Red Devils leveled the match with a goal in the 21st minute. Rachel Thompson got in close and overpowered Lancer goalkeeper Autumn McKinney from about six yards out. McKinney did get a hand to the ball but couldn’t redirect it away from net.

Rustburg took the lead in the 25th minute when Haylee Wright collected a loose ball at the top of the box and beat McKinney with a well-struck shot to put the Red Devils up 2-1.

Rustburg scored a third time before the end of the first half. It was Natalie George who did the honors in extra time for the Red Devils as Rustburg went into the break with a 3-1 lead. The Red Devils’ fourth goal came in the 75th minute off the foot of Kesi Miller.

“We were chasing the ball and not covering people,” Heeman said. “We were chasing people too much and not communicating. That’s not the kind of defense we know how to play.”

One bright spot for Amherst (2-1, 0-1) was the play of McKinney. The senior keeper had eight saves in the first half, including a couple of shots from point blank range.

“She is our senior goalie and she does an amazing job,” Heeman said. “She touches the ball very well and is very good with her feet and her hands. She had some miraculous saves in the three years we had her.”

“It was a good district game and a good win,” Rustburg coach J.T. Wagurak said. “We went down early but came back and got the win.”

“I’m looking to put this out of the way and get ready for the rest of the season,” Heeman said. “We’ll work on it in practice and get things fine tuned and be ready to come out and play tough.”