ROCKINGHAM — A high-scoring game between the Richmond girls’ soccer team and Southern Lee High School saw the Lady Raiders’ comeback attempt come up short during Tuesday’s conference opener.
Despite scoring first, Richmond lost to the Lady Cavaliers 7-4 in their first Sandhills Athletic Conference game of the season.
Sophomore forward Allie Rodgers recorded a first-half hat trick, and freshman Jamyia Lindsey netted the other goal in the opening minutes of the second half.
“I was happy that we went up 1-0, and then it was good to see the girls battle back after allowing four unanswered goals,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “Allie had a big first half and was in the right place at the right time to get the ball in the back of the net and get us back into the game.
“We were in the ball game most of the night, but when we commit two fouls in the box and allow two penalty kicks, it’s hard to keep up with that,” he added. “It was an eye-opening experience for the girls and this is the level of competition we can expect night in and night out in this conference.”
Rodgers scored her first goal of the game in the 4th minute, placing the ball into the net off an assist from senior Ellie Buck, who crossed it in on a corner kick from the left side.
Southern Lee scored four straight goals to take a 4-1 lead, starting with tallies from Allison Burris and Brook Burris. Isabella Ramos added two goals, both on free kicks, to extend the lead to three goals in the 28th minute.
Jamyia Lindsey (21) moves around a defender before scoring her goal in the second half. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
The Lady Raiders roared back with two more goals before halftime, using Rodgers’ scoring touch both times. Her second goal was unassisted, a tight-angled shot from the left side in the 38th minute.
Southern Lee committed a foul just outside the 18-yard box in the final 10 seconds, and senior Paxlee Faircloth took the free kick. She was awarded an assist on Rodgers’ third goal, which was collected in the 6-yard box and slotted inside the right post with three seconds remaining.
Lindsey scored her second goal of the season on a breakaway in the 48th minute, started by a run from Rodgers up the left side. Moving past a defender, Lindsey sent a shot low and away from the keeper to knot the game 4-4.
Southern Lee (1-2-1, 1-0 SAC) would add two penalty kick goals in the 48th and 72nd minutes as a result of fouls in the box. In the closing three minutes, Allison Burris scored her third goal of the game. Ramos also finished with three goals.
The Lady Raiders (3-3, 0-1 SAC) will have another conference test on Thursday at home against Pinecrest High School (1-3-1). Varsity will begin at 7 p.m.
Note: The Richmond junior varsity girls’ soccer team did not play on Tuesday since Southern Lee didn’t field a team this season.
The JV Lady Raiders (2-0) will return on Thursday with a home conference match against Pinecrest, starting at 5 p.m.
