Lakeland took its fourth consecutive Suffolk Varsity Invitational Championship on Saturday afternoon, beating Kecoughtan in the final, 3-1.

Both teams were unbeaten in three previous Invitational games going into the championship, with Lakeland having yet to allow a goal.

The tempo of the game was fast-paced, with both sides showing the skilled play and good ball movement that had gotten them to the championship match.

Lakeland broke the ice in the 17th minute off what was already their sixth penalty corner of the half. Stephanie Owen took the corner, passing to the top of the circle and Nicole Klee. Klee’s shot was saved by the Lady Warrior keeper, but the rebound created a melee at the right post, and somehow out of the pile Katie Byrum found the ball and pushed it over the goal line.

Kecoughtan answered seven minutes later on one of their few chances of the game.

Lakeland held Kecoughtan to two shots and one penalty corner in the first half, but the result was still well in doubt.

The Lady Cavaliers took the lead for good in the 45th minute.

On a restart on the left sideline, Lindsay Cutchins sent a hard cross to the center of the Kecoughtan circle. Chelsey Salmon received the cross and had space to shoot from about nine yards out, she buried it cleanly into the low left corner of the cage, giving Lakeland a 2-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Sealing the match, Lyndsey Daughtrey scored the third Lakeland goal with four minutes to go.

Klee broke out of midfield, forming a three-on-two break toward the Kecoughtan circle.

Klee passed to Daughtrey just to the left of goal, and Daughtrey scored from there.

Klee was named Invitational MVP, and Melissa Dunn, Owen, Daughtrey and Salmon also represented on the All-Tournament team.

&uot;We were more intense in the second half,&uot; said Dunn, &uot;it’s (the tournament) a good start to the rest of our season.&uot;

&uot;We’d been struggling with some things,&uot; said coach Tara Worley, &uot;and each game we improved and this was our goal during the tournament, and the last game was our best-played game.&uot;

Earlier on Saturday, Lakeland beat Landstown. 4-0.

Klee scored two goals, Byrum assisted on both of Klee’s tallies and scored a goal of her own, and Lindsey Cutchins scored once and assisted on Byrum’s goal.

The Lady Cavaliers outshot the Lady Eagles 23-3.

Nansemond River, for the second time in less than a week, beat crosstown rivals King’s Fork, this time by a 6-0 score. Ashley Aston had a second-half hat trick as the Lady Warriors scored five times after halftime. Katelyn Yandle recorded three assists and Lindsay Wyatt had a goal and an assist.

King’s Fork takes the field again on Tuesday, traveling to Bayside for a 3:30 start.

All three Suffolk schools return to Southeastern District play on Wednesday with River going to Indian River, Fork going to Great Bridge, and Lakeland hosting Western Branch.

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com