CAMERON — The story through the first seven matches of the season for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team has been its unlucky inablility to score.
That was the case in Friday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference match at Union Pines, which ended in a 2-0 defeat.
The Lady Vikings scored one goal in each half. Scoring were seniors Taryn Pekala and Grace Queen.
“The first goal was a poorly misplayed ball on our part,” head coach Chris Larsen explained. “Quanna (Bostic) kept us tight in the ball game with some great saves, but the first goal started out wide and we got beat.
“In the second half, we failed to clear a goal kick cleanly and turned the ball over. That gave (Union Pines) a chance to get it on frame and make it a two-goal lead.”
Larsen noted Richmond did have “a few chances to score” in both halves, but added that the team’s “achilles heel” of not getting a shot on target limited the Lady Raiders’ chances.
Richmond had more chances to score in the final 40 minutes of play, including free kicks from outside the 18-yard box by senior Mascha Theijs and junior Jentry Denson. The Lady Raiders also had two corner kicks, but neither ended in a quality scoring opportunity.
What Larsen called the “brightest spot” of the game was a run by sophomore Kellie Gomez in the second half. With the keeper off her line and the net open, Gomez made a run on goal but couldn’t get around the final defender.
Even though a goal wasn’t scored, Larsen said it was a big momentum boost for the team in the second half.
“It’s never good to lose, but I’m pleased with the way the girls played,” Larsen closed. “They showed up and put forth the effort. It was just another night we struggled to find the back of the night.”
The Lady Raiders (2-5, 1-2 SAC) begin another three-match week Tuesday when they host Lee County High School (3-3, 1-2 SAC) for a conference meeting. Action is set to get underway at 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders also lose
The Richmond junior varsity girls’ soccer team also lost to Union Pines Friday by the score of 2-0.
The Richmond JV girls’ soccer team (2-3, 1-2 SAC) will begin their conference match Tuesday against Lee County at 5:15 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics and game information provided by head coaches Chris Larsen and Bennie Howard.
