ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team came up a couple goals short in its match Wednesday.
Continuing their three-match week, the Lady Raiders hosted non-conference Central Academy of Technology and Arts.
Richmond stayed competitive with the Lady Cougars and made a late push, but lost 4-2.
CATA went up 1-0 in the 10th minute, which Richmond answered in the 17th minute on a goal by senior Ella Gibson.
Junior Janet Zapata sent a corner kick into the box that was deflected by a defender. There to collect the loose chance, Gibson sent a hard, low shot through traffic and inside the back left post for her first goal of the year.
The Lady Cougars scored twice more in the opening half to take a 3-1 lead.
Two minutes into the second half, CATA opened its lead to three goals when it scored in the 42nd minute.
Richmond’s other tally in the match also came off a set piece in the 46th minute. From the right corner, junior Mariana Gonzalez sent a corner kick into the box that was first played by freshman Nayeli Chavez.
The bouncing ball inside the six-yard box made its way to freshman Kaylea Peele, who muscled her way through a mass of defenders to redirect the ball into the goal from the doorstep.
With that tally, Peele scored her third goal of the season, tying her with Gonzalez, Kellie Gomez and Colbie Covington for the team lead.
Much of the second half was a back and forth battle between both teams without many scoring chances. Head coach Chris Larsen said in the final 10 minutes of the match he pushed another forward up top to try and better the team’s chances at scoring.
“The biggest thing for us at this point in the season is to continue to grow as a team,” Larsen said. “We haven’t learned from our previous mistakes yet, and until that happens, ball games are going to be tough to win.
“I think we have the talent and ability to be a really good soccer team,” he continued. “We just have to see it all come together and that will give us that extra boost of confidence.”
The Lady Raiders (2-3-1) close out their busy week with a road match at Asheboro High School (2-1-1) Friday. Action will start at 7 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: The Richmond JV girls’ soccer team (1-1) didn’t play Wednesday and will return to action Friday at Asheboro. That match will start at 5:30 p.m.
