Senior Bethany Chambers wasn’t expecting to be in goal this season for the Jefferson soccer team. In fact, she wasn’t even expecting to make the varsity squad.

The J-Hawks are certainly glad she ended up between the pipes for them on Thursday against the Kennedy Cougars. She made a slew of saves to keep Jefferson in the lead.

Jefferson got its first win of the season when it shocked previously undefeated Kennedy, 1-0, at Kingston Stadium.

“We were pretty put down after those first two losses, so coming back and beating a team like Kennedy raised our spirits a lot,” said senior defender Maggie Bruckman.

The lone goal of the game came in the 18th minute when junior mid-fielder Abby Banker caught the Cougars' goalie out from between the post. Kennedy defender Jordan Holmes tried to kick the pass out of bounds, but it deflected off her foot and into the goal.

It is the only goal allowed this season by Kennedy (3-1, 2-1 Mississippi Valley Conference).

“Katie (Dierks) did a great job pressuring it and then Abby followed it up and put it on goal,” Jefferson Coach Ash Brannan said. “Good things happen. We will take whatever we can get in a game like this.”

The Cougars were able to dominate possession for the entire second half, peppering the goal as they tried to get the equalizer. But Chambers would not let anything into her net.

“Just amazing,” Brannan said. “It is incredible, with the lack of soccer experience that (Chambers) has, and she has come in and hasn’t missed a beat. We couldn’t have done it without her, for sure.”

As the clock was winding down, it seemed like Kennedy was getting closer and closer to finding the equalizer, putting a lot of pressure on goal. But each time Chambers was able to stay in front of it.

“When it was coming down to the end, I was just trying to keep everything out,” she said. “It was really exhilarating.”

Kennedy Coach Homer Screws was not unhappy with his team's performance.

“They packed it in, and we had a lot of great chances,” Screws said. “Their keeper did a great job and it was just one of those games. I think they executed their game plan and we executed our game plan, we just couldn’t make that final play.”

Jefferson is 1-2 overall and in the MVC.

Jefferson 1, Kennedy 0

Goal -- CRJ: Abby Banker.