The field hockey teams of King’s Fork High School and Nansemond River High School faced non-conference opponents on Thursday and emerged with a win and a loss, respectively.

The Lady Bulldogs have struggled this season with putting together all the pieces of their game plan, even as they have produced a solid 7-4 record. But their eighth win, Thursday’s 2-0 decision against visiting Smithfield High School, was different.

“They finally looked like they knew what they were doing, which is very reassuring for a coach,” KF coach Courtney Van der Linden said. “We played as a unit, instead of playing as small pieces.”

The game featured a scoreless first half, but the Lady Bulldogs started quickly after halftime, with senior Rachel Gist achieving success in the circle first. Shortly thereafter, sophomore Hannah O’Neal scored off an assist by sophomore Nia Vargas.

“The whole team just played really well,” Van der Linden said.

She took special note of Gist’s strong game, and also highlighted Vargas when she said, “I love the fact that she’s scrappy.”

King’s Fork had seven offensive penalty corners compared to only two for the Lady Packers.

Van der Linden also praised the play of her goalkeeper, sophomore Skylar Wall, who successfully defended some good shots from Smithfield and avoided getting caught off guard by pressure that was only periodic.

The Lady Warriors visited Grafton High School on Thursday and fell 2-1.

“It was a game that we could have won,” Nansemond River coach Ali Mowry said.

Describing the tenor of the contest, she said the “first half of the game was a great game,” and the Lady Warriors held a 1-0 lead at halftime. “And then the rest of the game I’d say we were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.”

Senior Desiree Patterson scored an unassisted goal a mere four minutes into the successful first half.

“We were just controlling the tempo of the game,” Mowry said. “I think the girls were just playing relaxed and just playing field hockey.”

But after halftime, she saw their intensity drop, while the Lady Clippers came out fired up and more physical. Grafton scored its first goal on a penalty stroke six minutes into the second half. The game-winning goal came about 11 minutes later.

The Lady Clippers registered five offensive penalty corners and seven shots on goal, while the Lady Warriors had four and five, respectively.

Nansemond River (8-4, 3-0) hosts Kecoughtan High School on Monday and Phoebus High School on Tuesday, the same day the Lady Bulldogs (8-4, 2-1) return to action, hosting Heritage High School.