By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Washington just couldn’t seem to generate any offense in Monday’s 2-0 loss to the Havelock Rams.
The Pack (11-5-1, 7-5-1 Coastal Conference) did have a few opportunities, but Havelock goalie Justina Pereida turned them away in the shutout victory. The Rams (12-3-1, 10-3 Coastal Conference) scored once in each half to take the soccer victory at J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium.
Sarah Potter got the Rams on the board when she scored on a penalty kick at the 5:59 mark of the first half. Potter zipped the ball past diving Pam Pack goalie Ashley Crompton into the right side of the net. A handball in the box by Washington resulted in the penalty kick.
The score stayed that way until Bethany Dinger pushed in a goal with 17:30 remaining, giving the Rams a 2-0 lead. With a cluster of players standing in front of the goal, Dinger was able to kick the ball into the net.
It could have been worse, but Crompton was solid in goal for the Pack. She finished with 12 saves.
Havelock seemed to be on the attack from the first whistle and never let up.
The Havelock head coach is pleased with the progress her team has made. The Rams finished 7-10-1 a year ago.
Katie Howdy, who was banged up in the first half, came close to knotting the score at 1-1 early in the second half, but she came up a little short on her attempt. Iris Cruz had a breakaway for the Pack with some 32 minutes left, but Pereida was able to deny Cruz’s attempt.
Shelby Smithwick also came close to scoring with 21:30 to play. But, again, it wasn’t meant to be for the Pack.
Pack leading scorer Blaine Prescott suffered a bloody nose in the contest, but she only missed five minutes of the game.
Washington will play its final home game on Wednesday against West Carteret. The team will honor its eight senior prior to the game, which gets started at 7 p.m.
Kozuch is hoping for a stronger showing from his team than the last time the Pack took on the Patriots.
Kozuch, whose team sits in third among the Class 3-A teams in the 3-A/4-A Coastal Conference, believes his team has already secured a playoff spot.