ROCKINGHAM — A pair of one-goal leads gave the Richmond Senior High School girls soccer team some energy Wednesday, but the Lady Raiders couldn’t hold on until the final whistle.
Playing their second Sandhills Athletic Conference match in as many nights, the Lady Raiders made up a rainout against Union Pines High School.
Despite leading 1-0 in the first half, and 2-1 in the second half, Richmond allowed three straight goals before falling 4-3.
Senior forward Allie Rodgers netted both goals that gave the Lady Raiders their two leads, growing her tally to five goals in the past two matches.
Scoring late in the second half on a set piece was senior Gabby Lutz.
“I was pleased with the way we played tonight,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “We had the lead twice and I was glad to see that we were able to score and control the game for a while. There were several other times we created some scoring chances.
“I told the girls we had one or two mistakes that cost us tonight,” he continued. “And when you allow one or two mistakes against a quality team, that’s the difference between a victory and a defeat.”
Rodgers scored in the 18th minute on an assist from freshman Mariana Gonzalez. Making it 1-0, Gonzalez sent the ball to Rodgers on the left wing, who booted it into the net.
Union Pines (7-3-1, 4-1) tied it two minutes later and the 1-1 score would hold until halftime.
Junior Hanna Smith set up Richmond’s second goal with a rush down the right sideline in the 49th minute. Forced out of bounds, Smith hustled around a defender and regained possession before chipping the ball into the 18-yard box.
There to take the hop was Rodgers, who deked a defender and sent a low strike inside the right post to put Richmond ahead 2-1. Smith was credited with the assist.
Six minutes later, the Lady Vikings tied it with a goal. It was the first of three goals by Union Pines in an eight-minute span that changed the momentum for good.
Not going quietly, Richmond was afforded a penalty kick in the 71st minute after sophomore Yulissa Avalos was tackled in the box while trying to score.
Lutz, who has proven to be Richmond’s No. 1 scorer on PKs, rang true when her strike sailed into the upper left corner of the net for the Lady Raiders’ final goal.
Larsen pushed players forward for the final nine minutes of regulation and Richmond had a couple of runs but couldn’t score.
“I hope tonight proved to the girls that they can play with any other team they want to,” Larsen closed. “We have to focus in and eliminate our mistakes. If we do that, we should come out on the winning end of some of these close games.”
One more home conference game awaits the Lady Raiders (6-4-2, 2-3 SAC) this week. Richmond will host Southern Lee High School (5-4, 1-3 SAC) Friday at 6 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders draw even
The Richmond junior varsity girls soccer team finished in a scoreless tie with Union Pines Wednesday.
“We had some chances to score but we didn’t play our best tonight,” head coach Bennie Howard said. “The long stretch of not playing over spring break hurt us.”
The JV Lady Raiders (4-1-1, 1-1-1 SAC) host Pinecrest High School next Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.
