ROCKINGHAM – In a game that would have given the Richmond Senior High School boys soccer team a better shot at making the playoffs this year, the Raiders boys soccer game ended in a 2-2 draw after double overtime against Jack Britt High School Wednesday night.
The Raiders (8-6-1, 5-4-1 SAC) came out in the first half pressuring Jack Britt High School’s goalie and took the lead at the 24-minute mark with a goal from senior striker Brett Baucom.
Unfortunately, Richmond wasn’t able to put the ball in the back of the net for the rest of the first half.
In a tale of two halves, Jack Britt (7-7-3, 7-2-1 SAC) flipped the script and was able to do to Richmond what they had done the first 40 minutes, which was keep the ball on the Raiders end of the field.
Bucs senior Weston Grant scored a goal at 23:11 in the second half to tie the game up at 1-1. Just under 10 minutes later, Jack Britt’s captain, senior Brennen Herbert was able to kick it in to put the Buccaneers up 2-1.
With just under three minutes left to play in regulation, Richmond junior striker Carlos Alcocer was able to tie the game back up with an assist from senior Jonathan Tadlock off a penalty kick. Although the Raiders were able to put three shots on goal within the last minute of regular time, the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
Herbert was given a yellow card and had to leave the game with 2:43 remaining in overtime, but Richmond wasn’t able to capitalize on Jack Britt’s best player being off the field.
“I thought the guys came out and put a great effort out on the field tonight,” said head coach Bennie Howard. “We go up 1-0 then they come back and tie it up, then they go ahead 2-1, then we score with two and half minutes going in regulation which puts it into overtime. Both teams, neither one of us dominated in overtime, and we were just unfortunate we couldn’t put one in and get the W here at home.”
Howard agreed that his team was able to play better in the first half against Jack Britt the same way they did the first time the two teams met up in conference play (which resulted in a late-game loss on the road). Unfortunately, a win evaded the Raiders once again.
“I’ve always used this quote: getting a tie is like kissing your sister,” Howard said. “A tie sometimes is better than a loss, but we’re trying to move up the ladder for a playoff berth, and we just kind of took a half step back.”
In regard to the playoffs, Howard added that in order to qualify, the Raiders will need to win the next four matches in addition to possibly winning the conference tournament.
“That’s about the only way we’re going get in,” Howard said.
 Richmond will host Hoke County High School at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 9, in hopes of moving up the conference standings.
