LAURINBURG — Just two nights after scoring a season-high 10 goals against Seventy-First High School on their senior night, the Lady Raiders crashed Scotland High School’s senior celebration with another Sandhills Athletic Conference win.
Richmond (13-3, 11-2 Sandhills Athletic Conference) downed the seventh-place Lady Fighting Scots 4-1. The Lady Raiders added an insurance win to their second-place finish in the standings, which was clinched Tuesday against the Lady Falcons.
Senior Morgan Hooks was responsible for two of Richmond’s goals, while freshman Kaitlyn Huff and senior Jessi Graham each netted a score to ice the win.
Graham’s goal made it her team-leading 13th of the season and fourth in the last two games. Huff hit double digits with the 10th goal of her freshman campaign.
Richmond scored three first-half goals, as both teams found the twine one time in the second half.
“The biggest thing was we put the ball in the back of the net and gave ourselves a cushion,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “We coasted a little bit the rest of the way, but everybody got playing time.
“That really helps build our confidence and experience,” he added. “The girls had multiple chances that didn’t connect, but that’s okay. I think the girls are eager for a break, and it can be hard to focus with spring break starting.”
Hooks opened the game’s scoring in the 11th minute, taking possession near midfield. She weaved through a handful of Scotland defenders and ripped a shot from inside the 18-yard box to beat goalkeeper Samantha Pacenza.
Just six minutes later, Huff followed up on a shot that Pacenza bobbled, and tapped the ball in from a couple yards out to make it 2-0.
In the 35th minute, Hooks netted the seventh goal of her final campaign, connecting on another shot from inside the box.
Out of the halftime break, Scotland’s Sarah Eury put the Fighting Scots on the scoreboard three minutes in. Graham would answer back in the 46th minute, corralling a cross from senior midfielder Chloe Wiggins from the right side. Once settling the ball, Graham blasted it into the upper left corner.
Larsen also tipped his cap to his defense and goalkeeper Kelly Hoffman for helping keep Scotland in its defensive zone for most of the night. Senior Kaiyah Sriratanakoul, juniors Avy Lucero, Emily Buie and Valery Standridge, he noted, played a crucial role in the win.
“We were successful on both ends of the ball,” Larsen concluded. “A win is a win, and I hope we come back from break rested. We’ll regroup with a practice or two and get ready for Jack Britt and finish conference play that Monday.”
With Richmond County Schools’ spring break beginning Friday, the Lady Raiders will have off until Monday, April 29. That game will be a makeup from earlier in the season on the road at Jack Britt, and will mark the regular-season finale.
The Lady Buccaneers (10-5, 9-4 SAC) are currently in third place, one game ahead of Purnell Swett High School in the conference standings. Kickoff in Fayetteville is set for 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders win 9-0
The junior varsity team scored two first-half goals before exploding for seven goals in the second half. Sophomore Alma Lopez had four goals, while freshmen Talayeh Covington and Paxlee Faircloth each had two goals. Getting in on the scoring parade was Sheila Martinez with one goal. The JV Lady Raiders improved to 11-1, 10-1 SAC.
