AHOSKIE – The defending State Champion Ridgecroft Lady Rams dropped their season opener to John A. Holmes High School 2-1 here Friday afternoon.

Despite a less than stellar offensive performance against the Lady Aces, Ridgecroft kept the match close with an aggressive defense led by goal keeper Sarah Beth Greene and sweeper April Piland.

It was the visitors that struck first when, after six minutes of match play, the Lady Aces’ Courtney Mathias found the back of the net for the early 1-0 lead.

Sixteen minutes later they struck again when striker Sarah Procter netted to extend the advantage to two-nil.

Both squads dug in and neither team was able to get into net for the remainder of the half.

The second half began much like the first half ended with both squads unwilling to give any ground defensively.

The Lady Rams refused to give up however attacking the goal with a renewed vigor.

It finally paid off with just over three minutes remaining in the match when Hayes Bryant sent a high lob towards net that was inadvertently redirected into goal by a Lady Aces defender.

The own-goal cut the visitor’s lead to 2-1 but it proved to be too little too late as the Lady Aces held on for the victory.

Despite being disappointed in the loss, coach Beth Bryant was pleased with the way her team refused to simply give in.

&uot;We didn’t play as well as we could, but we did do some good things today&uot; said Brent.

&uot;We made some game time position changes in an effort to create more offense and some of our girls really stepped up.&uot;

The Lady Rams will play their first Coastal Plains Independent Conference match Wednesday afternoon at Kerr-Vance Academy.