Home Local Sports Allie Rodgers: The Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week

Allie Rodgers: The Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week

Sophomore soccer player Allie Rodgers has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
Kyle Pillar — Sports Editor.

ROCKINGHAM — Sophomore soccer player Allie Rodgers has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.

A starting forward for the Lady Raiders this spring, Rodgers played a big part in Richmond advancing in the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament and making the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs.

Registering a goal and an assist during the conference tournament, this is Rodgers’ first career selection.

Athletic Profile

Year: Sophomore

Spring Sport: Soccer

Position: Forward

Years on Varsity: 1.5 years

Experience: 10 years

“ON THE PITCH” WITH ALLIE RODGERS 

The Richmond girls’ soccer team played three matches last week, and advanced to the second round of the SAC tournament against Pinecrest High School. The Lady Raiders started with a 1-0 win over rival Scotland High School to end regular-season play.

Entering the SAC bracket as a No. 5 seed, the Lady Raiders played a road match against No. 4 Southern Lee High School. Pulling off the upset, Richmond secured a 4-2 win.

Rodgers, who played her first full season of varsity soccer, helped the Lady Raiders take a 2-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes against the Lady Cavaliers.She recorded an assist on the first goal, starting a run down the left side of the field.

Sending a cross into the box along the back post, Rodgers’ pass found junior teammate Cheyenne Jacobs, who scored the first goal in the seventh minute.

Wasting no time, Rodgers netted her goal in the 10th minute to give the Lady Raiders a two-goal advantage. 

Taking a touch inside the 18-yard box, Rodgers kept a defender off her back and connected on a shot from close range.

That win, coupled with a loss a night later against conference-winner Pinecrest, was enough to get the Lady Raiders back to the postseason for the seventh straight year. 

This spring, Rodgers was second on the team with six goals scored. Earlier this week, Richmond was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by top-seeded Hoggard High School.

Sophomore Allie Rodgers (11) battles for possession during the SAC tournament against Pinecrest. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)

RAPID RESPONSES WITH ALLIE RODGERS

ROSports: How do you think your first full season on varsity went this spring? What do you think you learned or improved on the most?

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Rodgers: “I think my first season went pretty well. I had a lot of fun and I think we could have done a little better than we did. What I learned most was about the dynamic of being a team and the importance of working together.”

ROSports: What allowed you to finish second on the team in goals this season? How would you describe your playing style?

Rodgers: “I got a lot of help from Coach (Chris) Larsen, and Bennie (Howard) offered a lot of constructive criticism. And my mom and teammates also allowed me to be successful. I’d say I’m an aggressive player, but I need to work on shooting more often.”

ROSports: There’s a lot of talent coming back next season. What do you think the key will be for another successful season in a tough conference?

Rodgers: “A lot of girls will be back next year and I think a key thing that will help us is to be positive all the time and find a way to lift each other up. If we can bond together and find that chemistry, we can be really good.”

The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week soon.