ROCKINGHAM — After an historic season last spring, which saw the program earn its first-ever playoff bye, the Lady Raider soccer team is gearing up for another successful run in 2020.
Second-year head coach Chris Larsen and the Lady Raiders will look to build upon their 15-win season from 2019, but will be without 11 familiar faces. Admitting it will be a year of transition, Larsen is adamant that the program will continue trending in the right direction.
Although Richmond lost nearly a dozen seniors, many of whom had multiple years of varsity experience, an influx of returners and fresh legs make up the current roster. Helping out on the coaching staff will be assistants Ashleigh Larsen, Michelle Denson and junior varsity head coach Tad Hamilton.
“The biggest thing about losing 11 girls is that it makes it somewhat of a rebuilding year,” Larsen explained. “We’ve got some girls who were starters on JV last year, but it’s a big transition to the varsity level.
“There are also some girls who played some minutes on varsity, but we’ll rely on some of our core pieces to lead us,” he added.
Among those integral players are senior midfielders Carley Lambeth and Valery Standridge and senior center back Avy Lucero, all of whom have played varsity soccer since their freshman year. He added that junior goalkeeper Kelly Hoffman and sophomore forward Kaitlyn Huff will help anchor the team’s core.
“I really hope their experience will help the others get caught up to game speed,” Larsen said. “We’ve been focusing on tactics and fundamentals to emulate game speed for preparation for next week.
“Last year’s group had many third-year varsity starters, and now we’re dialing back to the nitty gritty stuff,” he continued. “It’s good that we’re not starting from scratch, but it’s important for everyone to be on the same page.”
Gone this year is last year’s leading goal scorer in Jessi Graham, who netted 13 goals during her senior campaign. But looking to fill the void is Huff, who was second on the team with 12 goals as a freshman.
Junior forward Jayla McDougald also returns, and will look to add to her seven goals as a sophomore, which were tied for third on the team. Lucero, although a defender, netted six goals a season ago, proving to be a clutch performer on free kicks.
Richmond took second overall in the Sandhills Athletic Conference standings last year, finishing with a 12-2 record and surrendered just two losses to perennial powerhouse Pinecrest High School. The bar is still set high for Richmond, as Larsen hopes to remain near the top of the conference.
“We want to be competitive and win as many games as we can,” he said of the ultimate goal. “Every year is a challenge and all schools lose quality players.
“Whether we win or lose, I want the girls to give themselves a fighting chance at the end of 80 minutes,” Larsen noted. “We’re going to take every game one at a time.”
Up top will be Huff, and returning after missing her entire sophomore season with an ACL injury is junior Caroline Whitley. The Lady Raiders averaged 3.4 goals per game last season, which was third in the conference.
McDougald will also be used as part of the scoring attack. Larsen noted that with Huff’s scoring capabilities and speed, she’s likely to move around to different positions.
At center midfielder will be Lambeth and Standridge, and Larsen said he’s “hoping for some consistency and leadership in the middle of the field” from his two veteran players.
“Both Carley and Valery do a terrific job moving the ball and setting the tempo,” he acknowledged. “I’m going to lean very heavily on them, and they stand to be a very integral part of our success.
“They could score a lot of goals, but their stats don’t show how important they are to what we do.”
Lucero will hold down the back as Richmond’s “last line of defense” ahead of Hoffman in net. Larsen complimented Lucero’s ability to keep the team organized and said Hoffman will have to live up to her mark as the defending co-goalkeeper of the year.
“Kelly was co-goalkeeper of the year last year and I want her to repeat as that this spring,” Larsen said. “She’ll have to raise her level of play in the back and be a brick wall as we continue to develop in front of her.”
Among the other players looking to make a name for themselves are senior outside back Aerial Spooner, junior outside back Abigail Hudson, junior midfielder Allyson Leggett, sophomore outside back Paxlee Faircloth, sophomore midfielder Ellie Buck, freshman outside back Kalei Sriratanakoul and freshman forward Sheccid Heaton.
Buck, Hudson and Leggett all saw playing time at different parts of last season, filling in when several starters suffered injuries. Larsen said several players are vying for starting roles this season and explained it may take some time to find the right combination.
Senior newcomers Layne Maultsby and Hailey Miller, along with newly promoted juniors Crimson Singletary and Alma Lopez, will also look to make an impact this spring.
One of Larsen’s philosophies as head coach is “the only way to get better is to play quality teams.” Outside the SAC, the Lady Raiders will challenge Gray’s Creek, Pine Forest, Porter Ridge, Union Pines and open with Southern Lee High School.
“All of these programs are similar to the competition level from last year,” Larsen said. “The girls rose to the occasion the last two years, so I’m setting the expectations high and hope the girls rise and achieve that.
“The biggest thing I told the girls about this season is yes, I want to win, but it’s sometimes what you learn, the experience you make and the fun you have that matters most,” he closed.
Richmond will scrimmage this Saturday at Hoke County High School and open the regular season on the road at Southern Lee on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
