SPRING LAKE — One hundred minutes of soccer still wasn’t enough time to decide a winner in Wednesday’s Mid-South Conference soccer match.
Continuing the first round of regular-season play against conference opponents, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ soccer team played a full match and two overtime periods at Overhills High School.
Trailing early and late in the match, while also holding a lead during the second half, the Raiders finished in a 5-5 draw with the Jaguars.
Both teams scored a goal in the first half to go into the break tied 1-1. Richmond and Overhills each found the back of the net four times apiece between the second half and the two mandatory 10-minute overtime periods.
“The match was definitely back and forth the whole time,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “I don’t think we played our best game of the season, especially in the first half.
“We came out a little flat, but we were able to make some adjustments to their narrower field. We put two forwards up top and that increased our scoring opportunities, which was evident by scoring four goals in the second half and overtime.
“I commended the guys for sticking with it and tying the game late,” Larsen closed. “Getting that equalizing goal with about two minutes to go proved that the guys were hungry to finish strong. They seemed to buy into the idea of not giving up until the final whistle, and that helped us walk out with a tie.”
The Raiders used five different goal scorers to find twine Wednesday. Scoring the team’s first-half goal was junior Kevin Diaz Lopez, who headed the ball in from close range after sophomore teammate Allen Franco crossed the ball to the middle of the field.
Richmond’s next two goals in the second half erased deficits to tie it up 2-2 and then 3-3.
Following a throw-in by junior Ashton Mabe, junior Bryan Mendez Mendoza made a pass to junior Cole Lambeth in the box, who turned and scored in the 46th minute.
Overhills (2-7-1, 0-2-1) committed a hand ball in the box in the 61st minute. Going to the line for the penalty kick goal was junior Brian Griffith, who again knotted the score, this time 3-3.
With under 13 minutes left in regulation, senior Memphis Jacobs was the fourth Raider to score and gave Richmond a 4-3 lead. Following a chip to the back post by Franco, Jacobs settled the ball and scored.
The Jaguars tied it up and then took a 5-4 lead during the first overtime. Richmond escaped with a tie when Mendez Mendoza scored with 1:53 to play in the second 10-minute stanza.
Junior Patrick Smith sent a corner kick into the danger zone, where Jacobs got a head on the initial cross. There to collect the loose ball was Mendez Mendoza, who redirected the ball into the net from a few yards out.
The Raiders (5-7-2, 1-1-1 MSC) return to the pitch Monday to host Pinecrest High School (4-3-1, 3-0 MSC). Varsity kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
JV Raiders also draw even
Also playing at Overhills Wednesday, the Richmond junior varsity boys’s soccer team let a halftime lead slip away.
Leading by two goals at the break, the JV Raiders allowed two goals in the second half and finished the match tied 2-2.
Helping give the Raiders the early lead were goals by sophomore Drew McCaskill and Kerick Hairston Jr.
The JV Raiders (7-5-1, 1-1-1 MSC) also host Pinecrest Monday and will start at 5:15 p.m.
