MILLS GODWIN 1, DEEP RUN 0 MG: 1 0 1 DR: 0 0 0 MG: Kinnick Saves: Hagerman (MG) 8, Hauser (DR) 5 Records: Mills Godwin 10-0, 9-0 Colonial; Deep Run 7-2-1, 6-1-1
Anyone who was quickly called away from Friday night’s boys soccer grudge match between Mills Godwin and Deep Run missed some entertaining soccer, but they also saw what they needed to see.
Jamie Kinnick’s goal in the fourth minute proved to be the only score as the Eagles remained unbeaten with a 1-0 victory on the Wildcats' home field, tightening their grip on the Colonial District in the process.
“This is huge for us,” Godwin coach Skip Stevens said. “Deep Run is an incredible team. When you come here, you know they’re going to play hard and come at you the entire time.”
The Eagles (10-0-0, 9-0-0 Colonial) are now a game clear of Deep Run at the top of the district after their ninth shutout in 10 games. Only Maggie Walker scored on Godwin in that span in a game the Eagles won 3-1.
Godwin found the winning combination quickly as Cutter Jacobson played Hampton Hall into space down the right sideline. Hall delivered a cross that Kinnick put away with one touch after Deep Run defender Michael Kibler slipped.
Hall “did a great job of advancing with speed and played a great ball in to Jamie,” Stevens said.
“He covered a good half of the field,” Kinnick said.
The Godwin duo nearly hooked up again in the same manner midway through the first half, but Kinnick could not put away Hall’s cross.
The Eagles also had a flurry of chances to extend their lead just before the break, with Pierce Aggen’s header off the post representing the most dangerous opportunity.
Deep Run (7-2-1, 6-1-1) nearly equalized at the other end when James Hart’s curling shot sailed just over the bar. The Wildcats were left to regret several missed chances in the second half, including a timely rush from Godwin goalkeeper Patrick Hagerman, who narrowly beat Deep Run’s Reid Obeck to a long ball in the 51st minute.
“We were absolutely the better side,” Deep Run coach Frank Ford said.
“I don’t usually say that. I’m not taking anything away from them. They had a great goal, a deserved goal. But that was not a fair result.”
The teams square off again at Godwin on May 10 in a game Deep Run likely will have to win to keep its regular-season district championship hopes alive.
“They’ll probably win the district, and that’s fine,” Ford said. “This isn’t the end of us by any means. Both of these teams can go deep into the postseason.”