ROCKINGHAM — Everywhere but in the back of the net Monday, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ soccer team suffered a tough conference loss.
Starting the second round of Mid-South Conference action, the Raiders dropped a 1-0 contest with Pine Forest High School.
The one-goal loss resulted in Richmond splitting its season series with the Trojans (4-11-2, 1-5 MSC), who also earned their first conference win this fall.
Richmond controlled the tempo for most of the first half despite entering the break down a goal.
Pine Forest capitalized on a hand ball in the box, which led to a penalty kick goal by Nicholas Acevedo in the 23rd minute. His shot just beat junior goalkeeper Eric Legrand inside the left post.
Senior Memphis Jacobs had a pair of shots from close range in the opening five minutes to get Richmond’s offense started. Legrand made a stop with his body that was cleared by junior center back Brian Griffith in the 17th minute.
Other quality looks on net in the first half for Richmond came from senior Elen Fonseca Garcia, junior Kevin Diaz Lopez, and sophomores Allen Franco and Bryan Mendez Mendoza.
Fonseca Garcia’s chance was a one-hopper that was saved, followed by Diaz Lopez’s attempt that was just over the crossbar. Franco and Mendez Mendoza each put a shot on frame that was saved in the final three minutes of the half.
The second half mirrored the first for Richmond, as the defense managed to play shutout soccer. Mendez Mendoza nearly knotted the score in the 40th minute when his header attempt on a cross by senior DJ Gainey was just left of the net.
Peppering the goal with shots in the final 20 minutes, junior Patrick Smith and Jacobs each had a shot stopped.
During the final 15 minutes of the match, head coach Chris Larsen switched Richmond’s formation to a 3-4-3, removing a defender and placing another forward up top.
Fonseca Garcia blasted a 30-yard shot off the cross bar in the 68th minute, and the second-chance rebound opportunity by Diaz Lopez missed left.
A couple of chances from junior Jeffrey McAuley were stopped, including a shot that was deflected wide following a corner kick in the 74th minute.
Richmond maintained possession in its attacking third for the majority of the final 10 minutes, but couldn’t score.
Senior goalkeeper Camden Williams kept it a one-goal deficit with a couple of late saves, including a punch save inside the final 90 seconds. Griffith also made a couple of stops with his lower body that led to the ball being cleared out of the danger zone.
Richmond (6-9-2, 2-3-1 MSC) has another conference match later this week on the road at Jack Britt High School (9-4-2, 4-2 MSC). That contest will be Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Raiders will look to even their series with the Buccaneers and avenge a two-goal loss from Sept. 24.
JV soccer team blanks Pine Forest
The Richmond junior varsity boys’ soccer team shut out Pine Forest Monday.
Scoring a goal in the first half, a three-goal second half led to a 4-0 victory.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jake Gardner played the majority of time in net during the shutout. Sophomore Francisco Sanchez and freshman Eric Hicks also played.
Giving Richmond a 1-0 lead at halftime was sophomore Angel Huerta.
Sophomore JaVeion Littlejohn netted the next two goals in the second half. Adding the insurance tally was freshman Kaleb Hairston.
“We started a little bit slower than we’re used to tonight,” head coach Jessi Weigman said. “But the guys got better as the game progressed.
“Jake did a good job of keeping us in the match and played well with the lead. Everybody played tonight and I’m happy for the guys who scored. Hopefully we can finish the season on a strong run.”
The JV Raiders (9-6-1, 3-2-1 MSC) will begin action at Jack Britt Wednesday at 5 p.m.
