The Suffolk public high school field hockey teams spent Wednesday this week hosting their conference mates from across the James River.

Lakeland High School and King’s Fork High School registered wins, and Nansemond River High School made it a clean sweep for Suffolk with a 2-0 victory over Denbigh High School.

“I don’t think the score reflected how well we played,” Lady Warriors head coach Ali Mowry said. “I’m not taking anything away from Denbigh, they were definitely a good team, but I’d say for the most part we controlled the game, and our intensity level was back where I wanted it to be.”

She admitted the Lady Patriots were more of a challenge than expected but felt the reason her team did not score until late was its weakness in finishing.

“We had plenty of opportunities,” Mowry said, citing Nansemond River’s 18 shots on goal. Denbigh managed only two.

Lady Warriors sophomore midfielder Jaclyn Mounie, who had a hand in both scores, said, “We could have scored more goals, but we ended up winning, and that’s all that mattered.”

A scoreless tie persisted past halftime and through most of the second half until Mounie scored off an assist by sophomore midfielder/back KateLynn Hodgkiss with 10:50 remaining.

Responding to her status now as a frequent scorer for Nansemond River, Mounie said, “It’s really just my position and where I’m supposed to be on the field.”

The next goal came a minute and 25 seconds later. Sophomore midfielder Claire Janek fired off a shot at the top of the circle. Mounie kept it in play, hitting it to senior back Madison Janek, who was positioned in front of the goalie and knocked it in.

The Lady Warriors scored both goals off of penalty corners, of which they had nine total.

“Right now that’s how were getting the points on the board,” Mowry said. “If we can’t find that scoring opportunity in the circle, then we’re looking to draw a corner and give ourselves a chance that way.”

Nansemond River held Denbigh to no corners, which helped goalie Brooke Street achieve her fourth shutout of the season.

Also on Wednesday, Lakeland defeated Heritage High School 9-0, and King’s Fork routed Phoebus High School 7-0. After the Denbigh game, Mowry said the Lady Patriots will “be the top team from the other side of the water.”

She said Nansemond River (7-3, 2-1) has the goal of locking up the second place spot in the conference, right behind Lakeland.

“The girls know they have to stay focused through two more conference games, but overall the team morale is up with that 7-3 record and the girls know that a couple of those games were still close, and that it could be better, so I think that’s a huge confidence booster for us going into the end of the season and conference tournament.”

Madison Janek, one of the team captains, echoed her coach’s thoughts on where the Lady Warriors need improvement, saying, “I just think we need to work on finishing in the circle and little defensive things.”

But she also reflected the improved morale.

“Overall, I’m definitely confident for the rest of our season. I think we’ll make it far,” she said.

The Lady Warriors travel to play Phoebus High School next Wednesday.