RAEFORD — A long-awaited win against a conference opponent came to fruition for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team Friday.
In their eighth match against a Mid-South Conference team this season, the Lady Raiders finally broke into the win column at Hoke County High School.
The teams’ first meeting was a scoreless double-overtime draw, but this time Richmond was able to score the game-winner in a 3-2 victory.
Richmond netted a pair of goals in the first half to lead 2-1. With the game tied at two goals apiece in the second half, senior Jentry Denson scored the game-winning goal in the closing minutes.
Helping give the Lady Raiders the lead in the first half were freshman Nayeli Chavez and junior Colbie Covington, both of whom had one goal.
Covington recorded an assist on Chavez’s tally, and junior Mariana Gonzalez was credited with the helper on Denson’s game-winning goal.
Near the 15-minute mark of the first half, Covington sent a cross from the left side of the field to Chavez, who head coach Chris Larsen said was “in the right place at the right time.” Chavez was able to redirect the pass into the net to make it 1-0.
Not long after that goal, Covington built the lead to two goals when she controlled the ball down the left side of the field and scored from distance.
Making a move toward the center of the field to create space around the defense, Covington sent a 20-yard blast into the upper left corner of the net.
Five minutes before the break, Hoke County (7-7-4, 0-5-3), which is the MSC’s last winless team in conference play, scored to cut Richmond’s lead in half.
“We came out in the second half and played pretty well,” Larsen said. “But we were a little bit more defensive than what I would’ve liked and conceded a second goal on a free kick with about 10 minutes to go, which tied the game.”
Determined not to go to overtime for a second time with the Lady Bucks, Richmond capitalized on a set piece with four minutes left in regulation.
Taking a corner kick was Gonzalez, who sent a well-placed strike toward the back post. Using her head, Denson placed her shot attempt back toward the near post and inside the left corner of the net for the game-winning goal.
“It’s eluded us for most of the season, but I’m happy for the girls to get their first conference win of the season,” Larsen said. “Hopefully we can build on this as we near the end of the regular season.”
The Lady Raiders (5-10-2, 1-6-1 MSC) have three regular season games remaining, including two next week. They’ll head to Overhills High School (5-6-4, 2-4-2 MSC) Tuesday and start at 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders sweep Hoke County
In junior varsity action, Richmond returned to the win column Friday.
Sweeping the season series with Hoke County, the JV Lady Raiders won 3-0.
Finding the back of the net all three times in the second half, the JV Lady Raiders used two goal scorers.
Freshman Kallie Hamby made it 1-0 when she scored on a free kick. Fellow freshman Molly Covington added a pair of insurance goals.
One of Covington’s goals was scored on a corner kick, assisted by freshman Matti Wallace.
“We played a better second half,” head coach Bennie Howard said. “I challenged the girls to step up, and they did.”
The JV Lady Raiders’ (7-5, 4-4 MSC) next match is Tuesday at Overhills at 5 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Game information and statistics provided by head coaches Chris Larsen and Bennie Howard.
