RAEFORD, N.C. – New to Sandhills Athletic Conference play this soccer season was the implementation of penalty kicks following a tie after regulation and overtime. And the Richmond Senior High School varsity soccer team got its first taste of penalty kick action, resulting in a big-time SAC victory.
On the road Monday at Hoke County High School, the Raiders were riding a three-game losing streak and looking to re-enter the win column. Although it would take 80 minutes of scoreless regulation soccer, coupled with two scoreless five-minute overtime periods, Richmond only needed four attempts on penalty kicks to edge the second-place Bucks 3-1.
Not only did the Raiders (6-8, 4-4 SAC) find their winning groove again, but they also handed Hoke County its first SAC loss of the season, and only its second loss all year, the other coming to Southern Lee High School on Spet. 4. The PK winner also redeemed a 3-1 loss to Hoke County at home on Sept. 25.
“Tonight’s win was big for us, and we really needed it,” first-year head coach Chris Larsen said in relief following the overtime thriller. “Last week was tough for us losing three close games, so this win should get us back on track and help build our momentum.
“As a coach and a player, you never want to go to PKs — but sometimes it happens and the guys responded and we were able to put the ball into the back of the net,” he added. “Both teams had some opportunities to score tonight, but it came down to kicks. I’m glad we won and the guys worked hard.”
The Bucks (11-2, 7-1) had an opportunity to break the scoreless tie midway through the second half, after a Richmond foul allowed a penalty kick for senior David Williams. But his attempt was denied by Richmond senior goalkeeper and reigning Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week Jackson Haley, who stood tall and made the save. Larsen also made note of his keeper’s play during the entire match, adding that Haley “made several saves or deflected shots on net” to keep the Bucks off the scoreboard.
“When you play a quality team like Coach (Colin) McDavid and Hoke County, you expect it to be like the way it went tonight,” Larsen commented. “I told the guys that any good soccer game isn’t going to see three, four or five goals scored. Tonight was competitive and both teams knocked the ball around well.
“This was the first time I’ve coached a game that went to penalty kills,” he continued. “And I know for a lot of guys, it was their first time, too. It does give them a good experience, and I’m just glad we came out on the right side of the ball.”
In the overtime periods, neither team scored, but if one had, it wouldn’t have been a sudden death situation, Larsen explained. But through 90 minutes without seeing a ball hit the twine, the Raiders would punch it home on three of their four opportunities to seal the deal and leave with a win following the PKs.
Larsen chose a variety of kickers to participate the shootout, selecting junior Noah Jordan, seniors Evyn Brower, Carlos Alcocer, Alexis Gonzalez and Steven Morales. Both teams would score on their respective opening kicks, as Jordan punched it past Hoke’s keeper. In the second round, Brower would miss his kick, but it was matched by the Bucks when their second attempt sailed high over Haley’s head and the crossbar.
Alcocer gave the Raiders a 2-1 penalty kick lead when he mirrored Jordan’s efforts, and Haley came up big in the third round, falling to his right to bat away the potential equalizing goal. Leading by a lone score, Gonzalez would play deja vu and blast his attempt into the twine, forcing Hoke County’s hand to score. But Haley rang true again, this time moving slightly to his right on a kick drilled right at him to lock up the victory for Richmond.
Getting the much-needed SAC under their belt Monday, the Raiders will look to continue their late-season push with two more matches this week. Both games will be at home, with fourth-place Richmond hosting fifth-place Lumberton High School (6-8-1, 3-5 SAC) on Wednesday, before ending the week against last-place Scotland High School (3-9,1-6 SAC) on Thursday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.
“I know the guys are excited about this win,” Larsen concluded. “This should hopefully get us moving in the right direction, and I’d like to see us get two more (SAC) wins this week against Lumberton and Scotland.”
