Nansemond River celebrated its field hockey Senior Day with a 4-0 victory over Southeastern District foe Deep Creek, but all four goals for the hosts came from Lady Warriors who will still be on the field come next season.

It took the Lady Warriors a little time to break through tough defending by Deep Creek before Kimberly Bates and Sarah Lanthorn scored in the last eight minutes of the first half.

Lanthorn added her second goal 1:58 into the second half, and Shelbi Holloman made it 4-0 Nansemond River with five minutes to play.

Audrey Dailey, Darby Siebels, Jordan Morris, Markelle Patterson and Mary Gover were recognized in the Senior Day ceremony following the final whistle. The five seniors total 16 years of varsity experience for the Lady Warriors.

“It’s been great working with you guys and coaching you guys for the last two years,” said Nansemond River head coach Ali Mowry to the group of family and friends gathered at midfield following the match.

“You’ve worked all season and all offseason to make yourselves better and make the team better,” Mowry said.

The victory over Deep Creek helped the Lady Warriors along in their goal of reaching the Eastern Region Tournament. The win improves NR’s chances of finishing the district season, with two games still to play, as high as the No. 2 or 3 seed for the Southeastern District Tournament.

The Lady Warriors controlled practically all 60 minutes against Deep Creek. Eventually, the dominance turned into goals.

Deep Creek turned away four successive NR penalty corners in a two-minute span and kept the game scoreless for 23 minutes until the Lady Warrior attack paid off.

Just following the fourth Lady Warrior corner in a row, the Lady Warriors intercepted Deep Creek’s clearance attempt and raced in on the Lady Hornet goal.

Bates finished with an unassisted goal, shooting from the right side of the cage back across to just inside the left post.

The goal was contagious because, halftime not included, the Lady Warriors kept going to a sudden 3-0 lead.

Holloman, who sprinted and dribbled up and down her side of midfield all game long, sent a sharp cross in from deep in the right corner. Patterson kept the ball moving toward goal with a quick pass. Lanthorn knocked the ball into the cage from near the left post.

The Lady Warriors turned defense, one of the few times they were under pressure, into offense for Lanthorn’s second strike.

NR keeper Lindsey Hunter made a sliding save, coming way off her goal line, to stop a 1-on-1 break for the Lady Hornets.

Seconds later, the Lady Warriors were at the opposite end of the field. Bates passed across the DC goal for Lanthorn to put the shot in from short range.

Lady Warrior shots and corners kept coming. Hunter finished the shutout with only two saves.

Holloman, with a big slap shot from 12 yards out, finished the scoring in the 55th minute.

Morris and Gover, both four-year letterwinners, along with Holloman are the Lady Warrior captains.

Mowry spoke about Morris winning an award, voted on by the coaches at the camp, for heart and hustle at the UNC Team Camp the Lady Warriors attended this past summer.

“Mary exemplifies what it is to be a team leader on and off the field,” Mowry said.

“All of the seniors here are great players, and they’re great in the classroom,” Mowry said.

While Wednesday was Senior Day, the season is far from over for the Lady Warriors (9-4, 5-2). Nansemond River meets Kecoughtan at the U.S. National Training Center in Virginia Beach on Friday night.