ROCKINGHAM — After netting just one goal in their first three games, the Richmond Raiders flipped the switch and scored a season-high three goals in Thursday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference win over Hoke County High School.
Entering the match, head coach Chris Larsen said the team was working diligently on creating opportunities to find the back of the net. A pair of junior players responded, lifting the Raiders to a 3-2 victory.
Junior forward Luke Williams led the way with two goals on the night, while fellow junior midfielder Pedro Molina broke a late-game tie and notched the game-winner in the final 33 seconds.
Junior midfielder Alex Medina collected two more assists, bringing his season total to three. He worked the ball to Williams on his second tally, and got the exciting final sequence started to Molina.
Larsen praised his team’s fight in the back-and-forth affair, and noted that getting on the board first helped set the tone the rest of the way.
“I was pleased we played a full 80 minutes tonight,” Larsen said. “The guys put forth the effort and it was a full team effort. Even the guys on the bench were involved, cheering and pointing things out. That’s what it’s going to take to get back going in the right direction.
“The biggest thing is we saw that first goal go in from Luke, and he broke the ice,” Larsen added. “That was a momentum builder and it showed that what we’ve been working on in practice is paying off. Going up first helped the guys moving into the rest of the game.”
Richmond tallied seven first-half shots against senior goalkeeper Malachi Harris. Several Raiders, including Williams, seniors River Meacham, Noah Aiken and Cale Luckey, along with Molina forced Harris to make saves.
Williams, whose speed is one of his greatest assets on the outside, was rewarded in the 40th minute of the first half. With the clock winding, he made a charge to the left post and headed in a cross from junior teammate Cody Eason.
Eason’s assist, which started when he beat a defender on a run along the right third, put the Raiders up 1-0 with 22 seconds on the clock, which would hold until halftime.
Junior Luke Williams heads a ball on frame during the first half of Thursday’s win.
Out of the break, Molina nearly scored in the 50th minute on a shot that just sailed over the crossbar. Luckey flashed his defensive skills when he made a kick save along the open goal mouth on a shot from Roberto Sanchez in the 53rd minute.
Less than a minute after Luckey’s save, a foul in the box by Richmond afforded the Bucks a penalty kick. Julio Antonozzi lined up and beat goalkeeper Jay Ammons with a shot to his right to knot the game at one.
Six minutes later, Williams and Medina struck lightning in a bottle to put the Raiders back on top. Medina launched a 30-yard pass down the left side of the field to a racing Williams, who collected the ball and made a move around a defender just inside the 18-yard box.
Williams’ shot came from a tight angle, but he wedged it into an open net past Harris in the 59th minute. Williams said that an intangible connection between him and Eason and Medina is what led to the goals.
“On the first goal, Cody (Eason) and I were looking at each other the whole time,” Williams explained. “He crossed me a perfect ball and all I had to do was finish it.
“Alex and I always work on that play in training, where he plays me a long ball and I make my run,” he added of his second. “I got to it, got a touch and beat the defender and the keeper to put it in.”
Hoke County (2-1-1 SAC), which suffered its first loss of the season, wouldn’t go away quietly. Reynell Reyes whizzed a shot over the bar in the 65th minute, which built momentum for Hoke’s final tally.
Finding a ball in space in front of the net, Juan Santos tied the game at two in the 68th minute.
Looking for a spark to return to the win column, Molina played hero for the Raiders. With the clock winding inside the final minute, Molina received a dish from Medina and bounced a roller on frame from 25 yards.
His shot deflected off a defender and the ball redirected past a sprawling Harris with 33 seconds left in regulation.
Molina’s goal was scored amidst a flurry of confusion on the field due to a new rule, but Larsen said he was glad the Raiders were on the winning side of it.
Larsen explained that an amendment this season is that if an official inadvertently obstructs play, the result will be a contested drop ball. Off that play near midfield, Medina was the first to corral the loose ball off the drop, and sent it to Molina.
“I saw Alex come in and he made a great pass off the drop ball,” Molina smiled. “I took a touch and I just kicked it toward the net. It took a lucky bounce and I’m glad it went in. It’s something I’m going to remember.
“These three goals show that we are trying to get better and that we are doing a better job communicating. It’s good to see the team doing well and it’s an amazing feeling.”
Of the game-winner, Larsen said Richmond put itself in that position and was on the attack.
“Tonight was big for our momentum,” Larsen noted. “This win is proof that no matter the circumstances, if we show up and play our game, we can play with anyone. Our goal is to make the state playoffs, and a win against Hoke gives us a fighting shot.”
Richmond (2-2 SAC) will gear up for a tough road contest on Monday at Lumberton High School (1-1-1). The varsity team will get started at 7 p.m.
“We are a hard-working team,” Williams closed. “Our training has been more intense lately and we need to keep that going. It was back and forth the whole game, and I think we fought a little bit harder.”
