ROCKINGHAM — Junior soccer player Danny Jaimes has been named the Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
During the final week of the Raiders’ season, Jaimes netted the game-winning goal in the first round of the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament.
Joining the Raider soccer team for his first season, Jaimes closed the campaign with his first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Year: Junior
Fall Sport: Soccer
Position: Center Midfielder
Years on Varsity: 1 year
“GAME WINNER” WITH DANNY JAIMES
The Raiders entered last week’s SAC tournament as the No. 6 seed and knew a loss would end their season. Richmond traveled to No. 3 Hoke County High School and completed the upset bid.
Earning a 2-1 victory, Richmond went ahead 1-0 in the 19th minute on a goal from junior striker James Eason. Hoke County would answer in the 28th minute to make it 1-1, a score that carried over into the second half.
A series of textbook passes by the Raiders on a counterattack early in the second half led to Jaimes’ goal. Known mostly for his ability to possess the ball in the midfield, and often clear balls out of the back, Jaimes was in the right place at the right time.
Senior Tyler Berry started the rush across midfield and sent a pass to sophomore Landon Summerlin. A quick back-and-forth sequence between Summerlin and Eason saw Summerlin move into the 18-yard box.
Sliding the ball across the box, Summerlin’s pass to the back post found a wide-open Jaimes, who blasted the eventual game-winning goal in the net past goalkeeper Declan Callahan in the 46th minute.
Richmond would hold on to advance, but saw its season end a night later in the tournament semifinals at No. 2 Pinecrest. The Raiders had a 6-15-1 overall record this fall.
RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO WITH DANNY JAIMES
Jaimes discusses his goal and the Raiders’ win over Hoke County, shares his thoughts on the overall season and explains which professional soccer player he’d like to have dinner with and why.
The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Athletes of the Week next week.
