ROCKINGHAM — Getting in one final scrimmage ahead of the new season, the Richmond Raider soccer team used a strong first half to jump ahead Friday.
Hosting former Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Union Pines High School, the Raiders rolled to a 3-1 victory.
The two teams played a full 80-minute match and all three of Richmond’s goals were scored in the first half by three different players.
“This was a good showing for us,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “The biggest thing we did tonight was being able to correct some of our spacing mistakes from our scrimmages last weekend.
“The guys worked the ball around really well as a unit, no matter which 11 guys were on the field. Doing that created some opportunities to score early and we took advantage of that.
“We still want to clean up our touches and our decision making,” Larsen closed. “Now we’ll see how we can apply what we learned tonight in our first couple matches of the season.”
Richmond took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute when senior Elen Fonseca Garcia netted a penalty kick. Setting up Fonseca Garcia’s goal inside the left post was a foul in the box that tripped up senior Memphis Jacobs.
Senior DJ Gainey opened Richmond’s lead to two goals in the 22nd minute. Making a run down the left side of the field, Gainey moved into the 18-yard box and slotted a shot to the back post.
Richmond played both of its keepers — senior Camden Williams and junior Eric Legrand — equally throughout the scrimmage. Legrand kept Union Pines scoreless with a two-handed punch save two minutes after Gainey’s goal.
Finishing the scoring for the Raiders was sophomore Angel Huerta in the 30th minute. Creating space near the top of the box, Huerta moved around a defender and scored along the back post to make it 3-0.
As time expired in the first half, the Vikings were awarded a PK. Williams made a diving effort to his right to maintain the three-goal advantage.
Union Pines scored its lone goal of the scrimmage in the 60th minute.
Click here to read a season preview of the Raider soccer team.
Richmond will host non-conference Lumberton High School Tuesday for its first regular season match. Play will begin at 7 p.m.
PHOTOS: JV Raiders also scrimmage Union Pines
