ROCKY MOUNT – It was a tale of two halves Tuesday as Ridgecroft School’s girl’s soccer team handed Rocky Mount Academy (RMA) a 3-0 loss.

The ball spent much of the first half in Ridgecroft territory as an aggressive Lady Eagles team attacked the net.

Lady Rams keeper Sarah Beth Greene got a workout in the net, saving eight shots in the first half, including several saves while under pressure from RMA forwards.

Ridgecroft did have several scoring opportunities in the first.

A shot from senior Landis Joyner was deflected by the RMA goalie and a follow-through shot off the foot of Hayes Bryant was cleared out of the box by a Lady Eagles defender.

The Lady Rams found the net when Bryant scored off Joyner’s throw-in, giving Ridgecroft a 1-0 lead at the half.

Ridgecroft played with more intensity in the second and kept the ball in RMA territory for much of the half.

Just five minutes into the second half, Ridgecroft found the net again.

After a RMA was called for tripping freshman Loftin Johnson took the ensuing penalty kick.

A tangle of RMA and Ridgecroft players crowded the goalie box and it looked as if the ball would be cleared before Bardin Murray chipped the ball over the goalie’s head for the score.

With just over ten minutes remaining Bryant brought the ball from the backfield and crossed to Joyner.

RMA’s keeper came out of the box looking to intercept the pass but Joyner was faster and landed a shot behind the keeper for Ridgecroft’s third goal.

Greene tallied 20 saves on the day, preserving the shutout for the Lady Rams.

&uot;In the first half, our midfielders kept coming back on defense so then the front line had to come back to get the ball when it was cleared,&uot; Rams’ head coach Beth Bryant said.

&uot;We (Johnson and assistant coach Becky Johnson) told the midfield to stay out of the defenders territory and it made the difference.&uot;

Ridgecroft is scheduled to play Wayne Country Day today (Thursday) in the Lady Rams final regular season game.