ROCKINGHAM — Lady Raider head soccer coach Chris Larsen stated ahead of Friday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference showdown with Purnell Swett High School that the Lady Rams would be “hungry” for a win following a loss to Richmond earlier this month.
But it was sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Hoffman and the Lady Raider defense who were hungrier, as Richmond held on for a 1-0 shutout to win their sixth-straight game.
The win brought the Lady Raiders’ streak to within one game of last season’s longest stretch of consecutive victories.
The one-goal win also extended Richmond’s winning streak against the Lady Rams to 12 games dating back to 2014. During that span, including Friday’s win, the green and gold have kept Purnell Swett scoreless in five of those games.
“It was good back and forth game, and it was physical for both teams,” Larsen said. “Each team had a few opportunities early, but our girls in the back did everything and anything to shut them down. I told Jayana (Nicholson) and Kaiyah (Sriratanakoul) their job was to shut down No. 2 (Abigail Lowry) and No. 5 (Maddison Oxendine).
“Jayana, Kaiyah, Avy (Lucero), Chloe (Wiggins) and Valery (Standridge) played well enough in the back to eliminate any scoring threats,” he added of his defenders and midfielders. “They all played a big part in the win.”
In net, Hoffman recorded her fourth shutout of the season, with Friday’s helping Richmond distance itself in the SAC standings. The Lady Raiders (9-2, 7-1 SAC) remained locked into second place, and hold lead over third-place Jack Britt High School (5-3, 4-2 SAC).
Hoffman also made two clutch first-half saves in the game, helping keep the game scoreless. Her first big save came against Oxendine, who was making a charge on net. Hoffman came out and met her in the box and booted the ball away before Oxendine could get a shot off.
Just a little while later in the 27th minute, Hoffman again made a run out of the net against a charging Anna Lowry. This time Hoffman was able to slide to scoop the ball away, while getting tangled up with Lowry in the process.
In the 15th minute, senior forward Jessi Graham had a one-on-one chance in front of the net, but goalkeeper Monica Lowry stopped her shot. On the rebound opportunity, Richmond knocked it wide.
Both teams entered halftime without finding the back of the net.
Larsen noted “the first half carried over into the second” in terms of scoring chances and physicality. He also said his team “possessed the ball for 65 percent” of the half, which ultimately led to the game-winning goal.
With eight minutes left in regulation, the Lady Rams were whistled for a foul around 35 yards out from their net. Junior defender Avy Lucero, Larsen’s go-to on free kicks, lined up and blasted a shot for her fourth goal of the spring.
Standing in front of the home bleacher section, Lucero’s shot sailed to the back post before beating Monica Lowry and hitting the side net for the score.
“Avy’s shot just dropped in,” Larsen said. “It was a big relief to finally put one in the back of the net. That helped us seal the deal and finish strong.
“Tonight’s game challenged the girls,” he concluded. “It was nice to finish the week with three wins, and we hope we can move forward into next week with three more games.”
The Lady Raiders will return to action on Tuesday when they host current SAC leader Pinecrest High School (13-0-1, 8-0 SAC). The match is set for 7 p.m.
Note: The junior varsity team also kept Purnell Swett scoreless, using two second-half goals to win 2-0. Sophomore Alma Lopez knocked the first one, before fellow tenth-grader Crimson Singletary booted a free kick in from 25 yards out. The JV Lady Raiders are now 8-0 in the season.
