ROCKINGHAM — In the final moments of Friday’s scrimmage, the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity boys’ soccer team managed to draw even.
Hosting Union Pines High School for their first and only preseason opponent, the JV Raiders erased a pair of deficits to finish the match tied 3-3.
Playing two 35-minute halves, the same as a regular match, Richmond and Union Pines each scored a goal in the first half.
The JV Vikings scored on a run into the box in the first 30 seconds.
Equalizing the score in the 25th minute, freshman Mason Huff finished a second-chance opportunity in the box. Sending the initial ball in from the left side of the box was freshman Gunner Davis, who was credited with the assist.
Sophomore keeper Jake Gardner played the first 25 minutes between the posts. Freshman netminder Eric Hicks kept Union Pines scoreless in his 10 minutes played in the opening half.
Union Pines scored the first two goals in the second half in the 39th and 50th minutes.
The JV Raiders capitalized on a pair of fouls in the box in the final 17 minutes of regulation. Freshman Eduardo Lalito Soriano scored twice, both coming on penalty kicks.
Soriano’s first PK made it 3-2 in the 53rd minute. After Huff was tripped up, Soriano sent a low strike inside the left post.
Upping the offensive pressure in the game’s closing minutes, sophomore Kerick Hairston Jr. was tackled following a run into the box.
This time Soriano went to the upper right ninety on the PK to tie the match 3-3 with 1:15 left in the match.
“The second half was much better for us,” head coach Jessi Weigman said. “The boys moved the ball well and we were able to get everyone some playing time.
“I’m glad we were able to overcome a missed offsides call that led to a goal,” she added. “I’ve seen Eduardo score PKs in middle school, and it was great to see him do it at the next level. This was a good experience to get us ready for the season.”
The JV Raiders start their season Tuesday with a home match against Lumberton High School. The non-conference match will start at 5:15 p.m.
