ROCKINGHAM — A senior-studded lineup for the Lady Raider soccer team proved to be too much for visiting Seventy-First High School to handle on Tuesday.
On senior night, Richmond and head coach Chris Larsen blasted the Lady Falcons in mercy-rule fashion, rolling to a 10-1 victory. All of the Lady Raiders’ goals were scored in the first half, with senior forward Jessi Graham netting a hat trick to lead all scorers.
Ahead of kickoff, the team’s 11 seniors were recognized and escorted by family members. This year’s seniors are: Julia Bornhorst, Abbey Coward, Deanna Gomez, Jessi Graham, Morgan Hooks, Tatum Hubbard (Methodist University commit), Jayana Nicholson (Cape Fear Community College commit), Emily Parsons, Kaiyah Sriratanakoul, Kyra Wall and Chloe Wiggins.
“It’s been a pleasure to coach this year’s seniors in my first year as head coach,” Larsen said. “They’re a good, solid group of girls who’ve helped us get our record to where it is. They have shown strong leadership whether they’re starters or coming off the bench.
“All of them have helped build the success of the program over the last couple of years,” he added.
The win over Seventy-First (6-10, 1-10 SAC) notched the Lady Raiders a No. 2 finish in the regular season standings. With just two conference games to play, Richmond (12-3, 10-2 SAC) has a three-game lead over third-place teams Jack Britt and Purnell Swett high schools.
Their only SAC losses have come to conference winner Pinecrest High School.
Adding to Graham’s three-goal night, which brought her season total to a team-high 12 goals, were two goals from sophomore Kelly Hoffman. Usually in goal, Hoffman traded out with Coward in net, who allowed just one goal in 40 minutes of play.
Other scorers for Richmond were Nicholson, Wiggins, junior Carley Lambeth, sophomore Jayla McDougald and freshman Kaitlyn Huff.
Graham scored the game’s first two goals, coming in the fifth and eighth minutes, the latter on an assist from Gomez. McDougald would tap one in on a cross from Wiggins in the 15th minute to make it 3-0.
Huff joined the scoring parade in the 19th minute, ripping a shot past Seventy-First’s keeper Kaliyah Cotton. Graham finished her night with her final goal in the 23rd minute.
Hoffman would be responsible for Richmond’s next two goals, scoring her first just 30 seconds after Graham’s third goal. Her second goal of the season would get past Cotton in the 31st minute.
The Lady Falcons would net their only goal of the night in the 32nd minute thanks to Naya Thomas.
Using three goals in the final four minutes of the opening half by Lambeth (36th minute), Wiggins (penalty kick, 38th minute) and Nicholson (39th minute), Richmond sent Seventy-First home early.
“The biggest thing was coming out fast, and once we started putting it in we continued doing it all game,” Larsen commented. “We kept shifting girls around to give everyone an opportunity for a shot or two on goal. Luckily we were able to put it in the back of the net.
“For the girls who took advantage of playing well with a big lead and get their name on scoreboard, I’m happy for them,” he concluded. “It’s something for the seniors who scored to remember. Now we need to focus and take it forward and get ready for Scotland.”
Richmond will return to the pitch and play last-place Scotland High School (1-14, 1-11 SAC) on Thursday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
