ROCKINGHAM — After having to wait nine days between games due to weather, the Richmond Senior High School soccer team will have to wait a little longer for its first win of the season.
After dropping their season-opening match to East Mecklenburg High School last week, the Raiders got back on the pitch Thursday but fell to visiting Gray’s Creek High School. Despite a strong effort, which included an early goal, Richmond lost by a final score of 4-2 in the non-conference contest.
Tuesday’s meeting made it the first regular-season match between the Raiders and Bears in the last decade. Earlier this month, the two squads faced off in a pre-season scrimmage at Hoke County High School.
Although the Raiders would come up short, they managed to score their first two goals of the season. Seniors Luke Hawks (forward) and Lee Hayden (midfielder) would find the back of the net in the 25th and 55th minute, respectively.
“Luke got us on the board first which gave us some momentum,” Larsen commented. “It didn’t last too long, but we were able to go up a goal. I think we executed our game plan pretty well for about 80 percent of the night. There were just one or two opportunities we missed.
“We played well, but with the formation we run, if we get down, we struggle to get a high number of scoring chances,” he explained.
Hawks’ goal in the 25th minute broke a scoreless tie and came off a corner kick. He was assisted by junior midfielder Hector Castro to give the Raiders a 1-0 advantage. The Bears would respond just over six minutes later when junior CJ Eley scored in the 31st minute.
With just over two minutes left in the first half, Gray’s Creek (5-1) would take a 2-1 lead when Seth Wallace connected on a header in the 38th minute.
Following the halftime break, Gray’s Creek would use a goal by Eric Chavez in the 45th minute to take its largest lead of the game, 3-1. Chavez’s goal would prove to be the game-winner.
Hayden, who is playing multiple positions this fall for Larsen, scored his goal 10 minutes later to cut the deficit to one goal. His shot was assisted by Hawks. But it was too little, too late for Richmond, as the Bears added an insurance goal with 2:04 remaining in the game.
“Both Lee and Luke tend to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net,” Larsen said. “We had some other chances, but we just didn’t get it there. Any time we can put it in the goal it’s a good thing.
“Gray’s Creek is usually near the top of the Patriot Conference along with Terry Sanford and Pine Forest,” Larsen commented on his belief of playing good teams to get better. “This year we’re playing all three and we’re going to get the best out of playing good teams.
“Even though we might not be successful every night in terms of victories, we’re learning what we have to do, which is going to make us successful in conference play.”
Richmond (0-2) will look to add its first win of 2019 to the score sheet when it travels to Porter Ridge High School for a non-conference match on Tuesday. That game is a make-up of Wednesday's postponement. The Raiders and Pirates will get play started at 7 p.m. in Indian Trail.
JV Raiders earn first win behind Mendoza’s two goals
In junior varsity action, the Raiders defeated Gray’s Creek 4-0. Sophomore Duglas Mendoza scored two goals in the win, booting shots into the net in the 14th and 58th minutes. Also scoring for Richmond were sophomores Andres Sanchez (43rd minute) and Eliezer Sanchez (68th minute).
Mendoza and Andres Sanchez now lead the team with two goals each this season. With the win, Tad Hamilton’s team is now 1-0-1 on the season and will play Porter Ridge next Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.
