WHITEVILLE — The teamwork between senior Cheyenne Jacobs and junior Allie Rodgers helped manufacture all of Richmond Senior High School’s goals during Thursday’s win.
Despite giving up a pair of one-goal leads, the Lady Raiders used a second-half tally to notch a 3-2 victory over non-conference Whiteville High School.
Rodgers netted two goals, including the game-winning shot, and added an assist. Jacobs scored one goal and also had an assist.
In the 10th minute, Richmond took a 1-0 lead when Rodgers connected on a cross from Jacobs for her first goal of the game. Jacobs was credited with the assist.
Whiteville (1-4-1) scored the first equalizer in the 25th minute, tapping in a shot off the hands of a save attempt by sophomore keeper Quanna Bostic.
Less than three minutes later, Rodgers and Jacobs switched roles on what head coach Chris Larsen called a “traditional give-and-go.”
Making a run into the offensive zone, Rodgers slid a pass back to Jacobs, who was “wide open” and ripped a shot into the net from 15 yards out.
That goal, Jacobs’ fifth of the season and Rodgers’ second assist of the spring, made it 2-1, a score that held until halftime.
Not going away quietly, the Lady Wolfpack knotted the game 2-2 in the 52nd minute.
Scoring her team-leading seventh goal of the season 10 minutes later, Rodgers collected a bouncing ball in the box following a free kick and found twine for the second time.
“We dominated possession probably 70 percent of the game,” Larsen said, “and we had plenty of opportunities to score more goals in both halves. We just were a foot to the left or a foot too high from finding the net more easily.
“Their keeper made a couple of nice saves, but I thought Allie and Cheyenne both made big plays when we needed them. During the last 15 minutes, we locked it down on defense and tried to limit their chances with their speed.”
Returning to Sandhills Athletic Conference play on Friday, Richmond (7-0-1, 1-0 SAC) will host Pinecrest High School (1-4, 0-0 SAC) at 7 p.m.
Note: The JV Lady Raiders didn’t play on Thursday and will also play Pinecrest on Friday at 5:15 p.m.
