TROY, N.C. — Two nights after seeing its season opener washed out by rain, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ soccer team hit the field for the first time this fall.
In what proved to be a close match, the Raiders fell by a single tally 1-0 to non-conference Montgomery Central High School.
“We played well, we just couldn’t finish tonight,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “We had multiple chances to score and we were all around it, we just couldn’t put it in the net.
“Late in the game, we allowed a mistake in the back which resulted in their goal,” he continued. “I told the guys I had no problem with the outcome because of the way they played.”
The Timberwolves scored the game’s lone goal in the 76th minute, just four minutes before the end of regulation.
Earlier in the second half, junior midfielder Jesus Castro appeared to put the Raiders ahead. On a free kick just outside the 18-yard box, Castro laced a shot into the net.
But Larsen said the goal was called off after Richmond was whistled for an infraction for having a player “too close to the opposing team’s wall.” According to high school soccer rules, “a player can’t be within a yard of the wall on a free kick.”
The Raiders were allowed to attempt the free kick again, but weren’t able to capitalize.
“We played a lot better as a team tonight,” Larsen closed. “All we can do is take it and learn from it, and move onto tomorrow. If we continue on this trend, we’ll have some success this season.”
The Raiders (0-1) will hit the road one more time this week, traveling to non-conference Forest Hills High School on Thursday. Only the varsity team will play, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
JV Raiders draw even with Montgomery Central
Also on the road against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, coach Bennie Howard and the Richmond junior varsity soccer team started the season with a 2-2 draw.
The JV Timberwolves scored both of their goals in the first half, the first on a mistake in the back and the other on a penalty kick.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime, the JV Raiders rallied with a pair of goals in the final 35 minutes.
Scoring the first tally was freshman Memphis Jacobs, and fellow freshman Cayden Gillenwater headed a shot in the net to tie the game.
“We outshot them 9-2 and we were making runs all over the field,” Howard said. “I’m glad we came back to tie it in the second half.”
The JV Raiders (0-0-1) will return to action on Monday at home against non-conference Independence High School. Action will get underway at 5 p.m.
