ROCKINGHAM – The Richmond Senior High School boys soccer team has had many early successes this season. And on Wednesday night, perhaps the most anticipated home game of the year will take place.
The Raiders (4-1, 1-0) will host rival Pinecrest High School (3-1-1, 1-0) whom they defeated twice last season. In the first meeting on Sept. 26, 2016, then-sophomore forward Carlos Alcocer scored the game’s lone goal, as the Raiders held the Patriots to a shutout.
Less than a month later, Richmond completed the season sweep of Pinecrest at home on Oct. 17, 2016. Holding off the Patriots 3-2, senior Alex Alvarado (since graduated), then-junior Carter Roberson and Alcocer each scored one goal.
In hopes of retaining the Sandhills Athletic Conference title, head coach Bennie Howard’s team will need to play its best game of the season Wednesday night. In 2017, the Patriots have defeated Pine Forest, Seventy-First and Terry Sanford High Schools, lost to Lee County High School, and tied Leesville Road High School.
Richmond is ranked as the No. 51 team in the state according to Maxpreps.com. Pinecrest is slotted five spots better at No. 46, so Wednesday’s meeting is a marquee matchup for both conference title hopefuls.
Howard, who is in his 30th and final season, is encouraging fans to come out, pack the stadium and send his boys lots of “positive vibes.”
The varsity game, which is set for 7 p.m., will be preceded by junior varsity at 5:15 p.m. Please come out and support Raiders soccer!
