RAEFORD — Two overtime periods were needed to decide a winner during Friday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference soccer match.
The Lady Raider soccer team scored two unanswered goals to earn a 2-1 win over Hoke County High School.
Ending their week returning to the win column, the Lady Raiders used late goals from junior Gabby Lutz and senior Cheyenne Jacobs.
“We came out sluggish in the first half and gave up a goal on a PK about 20 minutes in,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “Even with the slow start, we had a few chances in the first half. There were a few balls in the box but we didn’t have any quality looks on frame.”
The Lady Bucks (1-14-2, 1-8 SAC) entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.
“I decided to go back out to start the second half with the same formation,” Larsen explained. “The girls picked up the pace, and we switched things up to get more bodies forward and help put pressure on their backline.”
With the quickened tempo, more opportunities on frame started for the Lady Raiders.
Richmond’s tying goal came with seven minutes left in regulation. Jacobs took a corner kick and was credited with the assist when Lutz headed the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
“We were the more aggressive team late in the game and heading into overtime,” Larsen said. “In the first 10-minute period, we had a PK opportunity that we missed and had another shot from distance that the keeper batted and hit the crossbar.”
Using the two-minute break between overtimes to “make a few adjustments,” the Lady Raiders took just three minutes into the second overtime to score the game-winning goal.
Taking possession in the box, Jacobs made a few touches before blasting her sixth goal of the season into the net. Jacobs’ shot beat the keeper to her left.
Making a quick change, Larsen dropped Richmond into a defensive set to limit Hoke County’s chances.
“We’re battling in the conference standings right now and we have two big games next week,” Larsen said. “Maybe this was a wake up call for the girls to come ready to play.
“We were able to fight our way back and keep our foot on the gas in overtime. Hopefully we’ll be more focused next week.”
The Lady Raiders (10-5-1, 4-4 SAC) are in fourth place in the SAC.
Next week will feature an away game at second-place Union Pines on Tuesday, followed by a home game against third-place Lee County on Friday.
JV team shuts out Hoke County
Using two goals from freshman Makayla Brown in the first half on Friday, the JV Lady Raiders earned a 2-0 win over Hoke County.
The JV Lady Raiders (5-4, 4-2 SAC) will travel to Union Pines on Tuesday.
