HOPE MILLS — The Richmond Senior High School boys’ varsity soccer team played in a competitive setting for the first time in 452 days on Friday.
The Raiders and head coach Chris Larsen headed to Gray’s Creek High School to test out their lineup ahead of Thursday’s season opener.
Splitting the evening up into four 20-minute quarters, Larsen said the scrimmage against the Bears allowed for him to assess individual players and the team’s needs before the condensed 14-game season.
“It went alright, and it was what was to be expected for our first game-like situation in over a year,” Larsen commented. “The way we set it up with the four quarters imitated what the year will be with the required mask breaks.
“All the guys got a feel for how that would be, and I made sure everybody got some playing time.”
By the night’s end, Gray’s Creek edged Richmond by a final score of 3-1. But Larsen said the final tally against the Bears wasn’t an indicator of how the Raiders will perform over the next two months.
“When mixing up lineups like I did tonight to get all the guys involved, that doesn’t show exactly how we will play,” Larsen explained. “I told the guys that each quarter we got better and they corrected their mistakes.
“I could tell the team enjoyed it,” he added. “Tonight was about making mistakes and hoping that we learn from them and correct them to get better. Gray’s Creek was great in lining up the scrimmage and I know they were thrilled to get the chance to play, too.”
Areas that Larsen focused on were making smart passes, switching the ball across the field at the right times and having the Raiders better mark up players on defense.
“This scrimmage was well worth having and I know it got the guys ready for Pinecrest,” Larsen closed.
Richmond will kick off its Sandhills Athletic Conference schedule next Thursday at Pinecrest High School. The original season-opener against Purnell Swett High School has been moved to Saturday due to a non-COVID related scheduling conflict.
Thursday’s match will begin at 7 p.m. in Southern Pines following the junior varsity game.
