RAEFORD — Monday’s opening round of the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament was decided in the final four minutes.
Facing Hoke County High School for the third time this season, the Richmond Raiders couldn’t get their first win against the Bucks
Despite erasing a halftime deficit, No. 5 Richmond wasn’t able to complete the upset and fell to No. 4 Hoke County 2-1.
With the Raiders on the bubble for the NCHSAA 4A East state playoffs, head coach Chris Larsen said the first-round loss likely won’t get the job done.
“We played a good game but left a guy open early,” Larsen noted. “But the guys made the necessary adjustments after that and we played with two guys up top. We had a lot of chances to score in the first half, a lot of close calls on the line.
“We just couldn’t get over the hump in the first half and that hurt us,” he added.
In what proved to be a physical match with a lot of tough play from both teams, the Raiders got a save early from junior goalkeeper Adrian Padron in the fifth minute.
Tipping a corner kick by the Bucks, Padron’s batted ball was headed by junior midfielder Landon Summerlin to clear it out of the danger area.
A pair of free kicks by senior midfielder Jesus Castro gave the Raiders a few chances on frame early on.
The first resulted in a shot into the side netting by junior fullback Jeremiah Ritter. Senior Matteo Rubbiano crashed the keeper’s box in the 14th minute but his shot was saved.
Padron made a diving save from close range two minutes later. On the ensuing rush, Summerlin took a shot that was deflected wide.
The resulting corner kick was taken by Summerlin and senior center back Diego Mendez just missed his connecting shot high over the crossbar.
Hoke County used its speed and a mistake in the back by Richmond to take a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Not able to clear the ball, Richmond turned it over and Leo Ramirez snuck a goal past Padron.
In the closing eight minutes of the first half, senior James Eason nearly scored with his body on another free kick from Castro. Senior Samuel Hawks went just over the bar on a give and go from Ritter from 20 yards.
Richmond had two chances to find twine in the final 30 seconds of the half, starting with junior Noah Gil. His 1v1 with the keeper was stopped, but a corner kick yielded another opportunity for Mendez, who headed the ball just wide of the back post.
Trailing 1-0 to start the second half, Padron made a save in the 48th minute on Joas Hernandez.
Richmond got on the board in the 51st minute following a corner kick. Hoke County was called for a foul in the box, which awarded the Raiders a penalty kick.
Castro was tabbed by Larsen to take the kick, who sent a laser into the net past goalkeeper Larry Ariza Diaz to tie the match 1-1.
“We got fortunate to have the call on the corner kick that allowed Jesus to take the penalty kick,” Larsen said. “He stepped up with a really nice goal and that lit a spark in us.
“After that and for most of the second half, we took it to them,” he continued. “We were able to get Hoke County on its heels a little bit, but they didn’t back down.”
The Raiders kept the pressure up in the second half, with Rubbiano and Gil sending shots on frame that were stopped.
Eason made a defensive save in the 68th minute, stopping a shot following a corner kick along the goal line and clearing it out to preserve the tie.
Hoke County was given two penalty kicks within 46 seconds of one another, the second one proving to be the game-winning tally.
Richmond was whistled for a hand ball in the box in the 75th minute, but the ensuing PK taken by Jose Vazquez De La Cruz was booted high and through the football uprights.
Less than a minute later, the Raiders were called for a foul in the box. This time it was Ramirez who took the PK and scored on a shot to Padron’s right.
The Raiders turned the intensity up in the final four minutes of play, making several runs deep into their attacking third. Unfortunately the clock expired before Richmond could knot the score.
“I told the guys at the end of the game I don’t agree with the calls that led to the two penalty kicks,” Larsen explained. “But there’s nothing we could do or say to make them change it at this level.
“It’s unfortunate they were able to put a second one in, but our guys played well. They fought to the end and that’s the way it’s supposed to be — competitive until the final whistle.”
Richmond finished the regular season with a 9-11-1 overall record and a 5-7-1 mark against SAC teams (including the SAC tournament).
Castro and Eason finished their senior campaign tied for the team lead with nine goals each, while Gil scored eight goals.
“I’m proud of the guys and now we’ll have to wait and see for the playoffs,” Larsen closed. “That light seems pretty dim, we’ll probably finish as the 34th or 35th seed and miss sneaking into the playoffs.
“This year was good for us and we’ll keep that glimmer of hope until Friday. We’re a much-improved team, a better team than what our record shows. We were in tight ball games up until the final minute. I’m pleased with how we got the ball going in the right direction.”
The Raiders will await the release of the NCHSAA’s 4A state playoffs brackets on Friday. The Richmond Observer will publish that information when it’s released.
