RAEFORD — Netting a single-match season-high in goals Tuesday, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team got back in the win column.
Ending a two-game slide, the Lady Raiders recorded their first Sandhills Athletic Conference victory of the season.
On the road at Hoke County High School, Richmond used three goals in the second half to earn a 4-1 victory.
The Lady Raiders relied on four different goal scorers Tuesday — sophomore Mariana Gonzalez, senior Ashly Gonzalez, junior Jentry Denson and junior Makayla Brown.
Head coach Chris Larsen said a strong first half of establishing possession and making runs on goal paid dividends in the final 40 minutes.
“We had a lot of chances making runs up and down the wings tonight,” Larsen commented. “That’s what happens when we’re able to connect our passes and use our speed. Makayla (Brown) and Hanna (Smith) both had two or three looks on goal and we really dominated and created chances in the first half.
“The girls took that momentum and capitalized on it in the second half,” he added. “I was very pleased with the way we played as a team and we had a full roster for the first time this season, and that showed. It was also good to get each girl some playing time to improve our chemistry.”
Mariana Gonzalez scored her second goal of the season in the 15th minute from just outside the 18-yard box. She sent a low shot inside the left post to make it 1-0.
Hoke County (3-4, 1-2 SAC) netted an equalizing goal in the 30th minute after Richmond misplayed two clearing attempts. The Lady Bucks’ shot bounced off the post and trickled into the net past senior goalkeeper Sa’Quanna Bostic, who made her first start of the season.
Tied 1-1 to start the second half, Ashly Gonzalez scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 46th minute. Denson sent a corner kick into the box and Ashly Gonzalez collected the bouncing ball before redirecting it into the net from close range for her first goal this season.
Ten minutes later, Denson was rewarded with her first tally of the campaign, also off a set piece. Sophomore Colbie Covington booted a corner kick in play and Denson showed her range with a blast from outside the box that snuck underneath the crossbar to make it 3-1.
Adding an insurance goal in the 76th minute, Brown was rewarded for her efforts. Receiving a through ball on a rush, Brown used her speed to work the left sideline before beating the keeper in a 1v1 to her left.
Now 2-3 overall this season, and 1-1 in conference play, the Lady Raiders will host non-conference Asheboro High School (4-1) Wednesday. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders mercy-rule Hoke County
Also playing at Hoke County Tuesday, the Richmond junior varsity girls’ soccer team rebounded from a shutout loss and defeated the JV Lady Bucks 9-0.
Richmond netted eight goals in the open 35 minutes before implementing the mercy rule six minutes into the second half.
Sophomore Cadence Gazoo recorded a team-high three goals and added an assist. Freshmen Erin Drumwright and Mavery Hooks each had two goals, while fellow freshman Isabella Chavez scored one goal.
In the opening minutes of the second half, sophomore Janet Morales found the back of the net to end the match early.
“The girls played well in the first half and knocked the ball around to create a lot of scoring chances,” head coach Bennie Howard said. “This was a good way to respond to our loss at Pinecrest. All the girls got playing time and we’ll look to do it again tomorrow.”
The JV Lady Raiders (2-2, 1-1 SAC) will also host Asheboro Wednesday, starting at 5 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics and game information provided by Chris Larsen and Bennie Howard.
