ROCKINGHAM — Using last week’s draw as motivation, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team closed a non-conference series with a win Tuesday.
Finishing a two-game set with Uwharrie Charter Academy on their home pitch, the Lady Raiders used four goal scorers en route to a 5-2 victory.
The win snapped a two-game skid and was the team’s first victory in its last five matches.
Scoring two goals in the first half, the Lady Raiders broke it open with three goals in the final 40 minutes. Richmond led by as many as four goals in the win.
Netting a match-high two goals was freshman Kaylea Peele, who registered her team-leading fourth and fifth goals of the season. It was also the first multi-goal performance of her high school career.
Adding solo tallies were sophomore Erin Drumwright, senior Jentry Denson and junior Colbie Covington. Finding the back of the net on a penalty kick, Covington scored her fourth goal of the campaign.
Drumwright got the scoring started in the 13th minute when she won possession inside the box. Denson set up the play by sending a free kick on frame, which hit the keeper’s hands and fell to Drumwright in front of the net for the easy score.
Ten minutes later, the Lady Eagles scored their only goal of the first half from distance to knot the game 1-1.
Just two minutes later in the 25th minute, Denson registered her goal, also from distance. Trapping a clearing attempt by Uwharrie Charter, Denson settled the ball and sent a high arcing shot from 35 yards that snuck inside the left post for a 2-1 lead.
All three of the Lady Raiders’ second-half goals were scored in the opening eight minutes of the second half.
Sophomore Mavery Hooks was credited with an assist on Peele’s first goal, bringing the ball upfield on an attack through the middle.
Hooks passed it to Peele near the top right corner of the 18-yard box, who blasted a shot over the keeper’s hands and into the net along the back post in the 43rd minute.
Four minutes later in the 47th minute, Covington got an assist when she led a charge down the left sideline and sent a perfect cross into the box.
There to one-time her second goal of the match, Peele won the battle against a defender and the keeper from close range to flick it up and over into the right side of the net.
Leading 4-1, Covington scored Richmond’s final goal on a penalty kick after Uwharrie Charter (2-1-1) was whistled for a foul in the box.
Covington’s initial shot hit the crossbar, but she was able to collect her own rebound and punch it into the goal.
The Lady Eagles finished the game’s scoring with their second goal, scored from close range, in the 54th minute.
Richmond’s goalkeeper, junior Kenley Smith, had a relatively quiet night but made a timely save on a strike inside of 10 yards in the 72nd minute to preserve the three-goal lead.
The Lady Raiders (3-4-1) begin Mid-South Conference play Friday at home against Pine Forest High School (4-1). Action will start at 7 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: The Richmond junior varsity girls’ soccer team didn’t play Tuesday.
