It’s still early in the season, but a crosstown soccer game went in favor of the Lady Commodores when they hosted the Oxford Chargers on Thursday night.

Playing Thursday night at Lafayette, two goals were scored in the first half and none in the second. Going to penalties tied at 1-1, Lafayette topped the Chargers 4-3 in penalties to secure the cross-town rivalry game.

Lafayette got on the board first, a goal from junior Katelin Johnson on a cross from Caroline Perkins in minute 12. Later in the first half, it was Carrissa Strum from Oxford tying the game in the 32nd minute.

“It was a physical game, but not too much so. Really, it was a fun game of soccer to watch,” Lafayette head coach Melinda Scruggs said. “They had more opportunities in the first half I thought and they controlled it more in the second. But really, it was a pretty evenly matched game. I was pleased with both teams.”

Strum’s goal was the last time the ball would find the back of the net in regulation.

Lafayette defense plays with different-than-normal look, and Avery Trehlor plays as a sweeper in the back. Oxford got more used to it in the second half, pressed hard and had a handful of opportunities, but were unable to get those chances to fall.

“We controlled the game and controlled the pace. We had several chances there to put it away,” Oxford coach Hunter Crane said. “But they play defense. They’re really good, and their goalie was fantastic. She made some big saves for them. We had them on their heels a little bit but they get credit for keeping it tight and sending it to penalties.”

Going scoreless through regulation, Thursday night was the first opportunity on the season for both teams to get into penalties to decide a game. In a game that, while a rivalry game, means nothing in the standings for both schools, it’s good to work through the penalties at this point in the season.

In the end, it was Lafayette making one more save than Oxford, winning in penalties 4-3.

“It’s hard going to (penalties). It’s hard to win or lose that way,” Scruggs said. “But at the same time it’s good experience for the girls, especially looking at the playoffs. If they ever get to that point, it’s good to have some experience doing so.

The game marks Oxford’s (7-1) first loss of the season. Lafayette advanced to 11-2-1 on the year with the win, their only two losses coming on the road against 6A Brandon and Clinton.

On the boys side, Oxford defeated Lafayette 4-1, led by two goals from Luke Freeman.