Two-time defending Shenandoah District champion Staunton dealt the Rockbridge County High School boys soccer team a 2-0 road loss on Thursday night.
The game was scoreless until 18 minutes to go when Staunton’s Anthony Renne scored on a counterattack.
The second goal for the Storm (2-0 overall and district) came when center forward Josh Bryant, who has committed to playing Division III soccer for the University of Mary Washington, made a long pass to winger Andrew Efird. After he got the ball, Efird went one-on-one with RC senior goalkeeper Jacob Wallace and put it in the goal. For the game, Wallace made 11 saves.
The Wildcats, who fell to 1-1 overall and in the district, had five shots on goal against Staunton goalkeeper Stuart Love.
RC head coach Jeffrey Tomlin said the Wildcats “played really well against a really good opponent.” Last year, Staunton went 15-2 overall and 11-0 in the district.
“Staunton possessed really well against us,” said Tomlin. “I think, going into the game, we assumed they were going to be the top team in the district.”
At halftime, Tomlin noted, the Storm made some adjustments and figured out a way to get past the RC defense.
For their home opener last night, the Wildcats were scheduled to play host to Waynesboro. They’ll continue district play at Stuart Draft on Thursday before playing host to Buffalo Gap on Monday. Both nights will start with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m., with varsity scheduled to follow at 7.
