SOUTHERN PINES — A physical game between the Lady Raider soccer team and Pinecrest High School ended in a close loss for Richmond on Tuesday.
Returning to play for the first time since before spring break, the Lady Raiders came up short 2-0.
“We played pretty well all things considered,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “We gave up a PK early to give them the lead, but the girls kept fighting. After the second goal, we held our heads up and unlike the first time we played them, we did have more chances on the attacking end.
“Allie Rodgers and Cheyenne Jacobs each had a few chances with possession in the box, and we had few corners and free kicks. But we couldn’t capitalize with a decent shot on frame.”
The conference-leading Lady Patriots (10-4, 7-0 Sandhills Athletic Conference) scored the PK in the 9th minute, followed by their final goal of the match in the 12th minute.
“Defensively we did a good job keeping them out of the goal and limited their ability to establish plays,” Larsen noted. “This was a good test for us out of spring break.
“I told the girls even though we lost, I was pleased with the energy and intensity that we played with. Now we have to carry that into the rest of our conference schedule.”
Richmond (9-5-1, 3-4 SAC) continues conference play on Friday with a road match against Hoke County High School (1-13-2, 1-7 SAC), which is last in the standings.
The fourth-place Lady Raiders will begin play at 7 p.m.
JV soccer team loses late
In the junior varsity girls’ soccer game on Tuesday, Richmond lost 4-2.
The game was tied 2-2 entering the final four minutes of regulation, but the JV Lady Patriots scored twice to earn the win.
Finding the back of the net for Richmond were sophomore Riley Howell and freshman Makayla Brown.
The JV Lady Raiders (4-4, 3-2 SAC) will play at Hoke County on Friday, beginning at 5 p.m.
