ROCKINGHAM — Head coach Tad Hamilton and the junior varsity Lady Raider soccer team picked up two wins this week to improve to 6-2 on the season.
On Tuesday, Richmond traveled to non-conference Grays Creek High School and handed the Lady Bears an 8-0 loss.
Freshman Kaleigh Cloninger scored a hat trick in the win, the first three goals for her this season. Fellow freshmen Allie Rodgers and Gabby Lutz both netted two goals in the shutout.
Richmond scored four goals in each half, and late in the game, sophomore Ashlyn Bouldin scored an insurance goal, her second tally this spring.
Hamilton said “it was a strong team performance” and that he was “happy to keep the clean sheet.” Sophomore goalkeeper Chloe Nunn was credited with the shutout victory.
Freshman Kaleigh Cloninger (12) had a hat trick in Tuesday’s win over Gray’s Creek.
A night later on Wednesday, the JV Lady Raiders returned home to face Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Lumberton High School and completed the regular-season sweep against the Lady Pirates.
Using five different goal scorers, Richmond won 5-1. Lutz opened the game with a goal in the third minute, redirecting a cross from Rodgers in the box, who was credited with the assist.
Sophomore C’Nedra Hinson recorded her second goal of the season in the 11th minute, collecting a loose ball inside the 18-yard box after a short clearing attempt.
Rodgers extended Richmond’s lead to 3-0 in the 18th minute, finishing a run down the left side with a shot to the top right corner from 10 yards out.
Scoring the final goal of the first half was freshman Melissa Hernandez, who chipped the ball past the keeper, who was out of position after clearing the ball.
Lumberton’s lone goal came in the 60th minute on a breakaway opportunity. Playing in front of a strong defensive line, Nunn made a handful of saves on breakaway and one-on-one rushes by the Lady Pirates.
Freshman C’Niya Hinson capped the win with her first goal of the year, a redirect inside of 10 yards in the final 90 seconds.
On the season, Rodgers leads the Lady Raiders with 15 goals in eight games, while Lutz has nine goals. Hernandez’s tally on Wednesday improved her mark to three scores this spring.
Gabby Lutz (7) scored three goals in two games this week for the JV Lady Raiders.
