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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY – The Westminster School at Oak Mountain Knights got back to the quarterfinals, but not before the boys and girls soccer teams overcame tough tests from the Saint James Trojans.

Westminster’s girls secured a 1-0 win off a late goal before the boys earned the 2-1 victory in their first-round game on Tuesday, April 29 at Dunnavant Valley Fields.

The No. 8 ranked Knights girls faced off against a fellow top-10 opponent in the No. 7 Trojans and found themselves an even match through the opening stretch of play.

Westminster and Saint James couldn’t score in the first half and went into the break tied up at 0-0 after the Knights held a slim shots-on-goal advantage at the break.

That scoreless draw persisted into the hour mark as both teams sought for the breakthrough goal.

Then, in the final 10 minutes of the contest, freshman Jordan Curry sent in a ball to junior attacker Vale Richie, and she found the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Westminster kept the Trojans at bay the rest of the way to secure the clean sheet and take the victory.

Much like the girls, the boys couldn’t break through the No. 4-ranked Saint James defense in the first half and went into the halftime break tied at 0-0.

However, the Knights flipped a switch after coming out of the huddle and quickly got in front once the second half began.

About five minutes into the half, junior David Bean played a pass for senior Charlie Krulak, and he put the ball into the net for the opening goal and a 1-0 win.

Westminster continued snowballing chances from there until it secured another goal around the hour-mark.

Jacob Dover cashed in for the Knights as the sophomore took the lead to 2-0 with about 20 minutes remaining.

That two-goal lead wouldn’t last for long though as the Trojans got one back five minutes after Dover’s goal to make the score 2-1 in the 65th minute.

However, the Knights closed out the victory by keeping Saint James scoreless for the final 15 minutes and advanced to the second round.

Goalkeeper Sam Carter played a key role in keeping Westminster in front with his four saves over the course of the 80-minute match.

The Westminster girls will host the Montgomery Catholic Knights in the second round on Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. at Dunnavant Valley Fields while the boys will play the Trinity Presbyterian Wildcats beforehand at 5 p.m.