Home Local Sports Strong second half returns Lady Raiders to win column

Strong second half returns Lady Raiders to win column

ROSports File Photo: Senior Rebeca Avalos, shown taking a free kick, scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday's match. (Kyle Pillar, sports editor)

ROCKINGHAM — Two goals in the second half of Tuesday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference match got the Lady Raider soccer team back in the win column.

Rebounding from its first loss of the season on Friday, Richmond secured a 2-0 victory over Hoke County High School.

Head coach Chris Larsen noted the team “came out flat and lacked intensity” in the first half, leading to a scoreless first half by both teams.

Larsen said the team played a better final 40 minutes of soccer and “created more chances and limited (Hoke County’s) possession in our defensive end.”

Scoring the first goal near the midway point of the second half was senior defensive back Rebeca Avalos. 

Taking a free kick from 25 yards out, Avalos took the shot from the right side of the arc and banged it off the bottom of the left post to find the net.

In the final 15 minutes, sophomore Ashly Gonzalez added an insurance goal, assisted by junior Allie Rodgers. 

Making a run down the left side, Rodgers crossed it to Gonazalez, who volleyed it in from six yards out.

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The goals by Avalos and Gonzalez were their third respective goals of the season, and Rodgers added her third assist.

With the loss, Hoke County fell to 0-8-1 on the season and 0-3 in SAC play.

Richmond (8-1-1, 2-1 SAC) will return to play on Friday at home against Union Pines High School (3-5-1, 2-0 SAC). Action will start at 7 p.m.

JV Lady Raiders even record 

Also winning on Tuesday was the Richmond junior varsity soccer team, which defeated Hoke County 3-0.

Head coach Bennie Howard said the team was “flat in the first half, but played better in the second half.”

Scoring for Richmond were Laney Dawkins, Tess Bryant and Marie Esquivel.

The JV Lady Raiders (2-2, 1-1 SAC) will also host Union Pines on Friday, starting at 5:15 p.m.



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Kyle Pillar is a 22-time North Carolina Press Association award-winning sports editor with The Richmond Observer. Follow the sports department on X @ROSports_ for the best in-depth coverage of Richmond County sports.