ROCKINGHAM — A total of 100 minutes of soccer was played Friday by the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team, which yielded no goals for either team.
Playing their third Mid-South Conference match of the season, the Lady Raiders had plenty of chances to score against visiting Hoke County High School.
Despite a shutout by junior goalkeeper Kenley Smith and the defense, Richmond wasn’t able to find the back of the net in a scoreless double-overtime draw.
“We know that playing Hoke County is always going to be a tough match against a quality team,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “That was proven tonight when both teams played 100 minutes of really good soccer.
“I thought we controlled the tempo of the game for the most part and we just missed out on a couple opportunities to score,” he continued. “I’m proud of the girls for playing with a lot of energy, and playing tough all the way to the final whistle.”
After both halves of regulation ended in neither team scoring, Richmond and Hoke County played two 10-minute mandatory overtime periods.
Similar to regulation, the Lady Raiders kept the ball mostly in their attacking half for both periods of extra time.
In the first overtime, junior Colbie Covington had two chances to score. First was a bouncing ball inside the 18-yard box with an open net in the 81st minute that was cleared away, followed by a cross from the left side that was saved with two minutes to go.
Senior outside back Jada Scott made a header stop on a corner kick near the halfway point, and finished the play by clearing the ball to midfield.
Richmond had three quality scoring chances in the second overtime period, the first of which was a strike from distance by junior Mariana Gonzalez. That shot was saved, but after the short clear, Gonzalez got the ball again and sent a shot just right of the net.
Freshman center back Alley Crouch and sophomore midfielder Mavery Hooks teamed up to stop a Hoke County scoring chance on a corner kick. With 6:30 to go, Crouch made the initial stop with her head and Hooks gained control to move it toward midfield.
The Lady Raiders’ final shot on goal came from freshman Nayeli Chavez, who tried to sneak a shot inside the right post following a run down the sideline. Her blast from 20 yards was saved.
The Lady Raiders (3-6-2, 0-2-1 MSC) are set to continue conference play with two matches next week ahead of spring break.
First will be a home match Tuesday against Overhills High School (4-2-3, 1-1-1 MSC), and the first round of conference play will close Thursday at Pinecrest High School. Each match will start at 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders shut out Hoke County
Ahead of the varsity match, the Richmond junior varsity soccer team got back in the win column.
Hosting the JV Lady Bucks, the JV Lady Raiders shut them out in 2-0 fashion.
Scoring a goal in each half, Richmond’s first score was by freshman Kallie Hamby, her first of the season. She took a free kick from 30 yards out and placed it in the upper right corner.
Midway through the second half, freshman Molly Covington scored the team’s other goal. Head coach Bennie Howard said he moved Covington from center mid to forward, which paid off.
“We had 15 or 16 shots on goal and hit the keeper in the hands eight or nine times,” Howard said. “I’m glad we got the W and that we got back on the right track after losing earlier in the week.
“I’m happy for the girls,” he added. “We have two tough matches next week with Overhills and Pinecrest, and we’ll have to play lights out to give ourselves a chance.”
The JV Lady Raiders (5-2, 2-1 MSC) host Overhills Tuesday (5:15 p.m.) and will visit Pinecrest Thursday (5 p.m.).
