ROCKINGHAM — A return to the playoffs last spring was a step in the right direction for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer program.
Now the Lady Raiders want to continue that success and knock down the next door — advancing past the first round of the NCHSAA postseason.
As a new season of Lady Raider soccer is set to begin this week, Richmond and seventh-year head coach Chris Larsen are also set on remaining competitive in their final season of the current Sandhills Athletic Conference format.
The Lady Raiders have spent the past couple of months preparing for the new season through a series of workout periods. They put their skills to the test in a pair of scrimmages last week, splitting their two matches.
Returning 14 players from a season ago, a number much higher than the past couple of seasons, Larsen expects Richmond to be a contender in the battle for the top spots in the SAC.
Last spring, the Lady Raiders put together a 9-13-3 overall record and finished fourth in the conference standings with a 4-7-1 mark. Richmond returned to the NCHSAA postseason but exited in the first round.
With such a high volume of returners from last season, many of whom were starters or played a significant number of minutes, Richmond will rely on its strength this season to anchor its success — its defense and goalkeeping.
Senior Sa’Quanna Bostic returns for her final season as the team’s net minder, looking to follow up her performance as a junior that landed her a share of the SAC’s Goalkeeper of the Year honor in 2024. This will be her third season as the team’s starter.
Also returning is another all-conference selection from last spring, senior defender Samantha Barnes, a shifty and elusive defender who helped move the ball through the midfield.
Larsen expects multi-year varsity starters seniors Ava Thompson and Nevaeh Harris, along with junior Jentry Denson, to solidify the back line, which he called the team’s strongest grouping on the field.
The Lady Raiders will be without two-time all-conference midfielder Gabby Lutz and the team’s leading goal scorer the past few seasons in Allie Rodgers. While those players have since graduated, Larsen believes the team has the right players to fill the void this spring.
Aside from Rodgers, who had a team-high 17 goals as a senior last year, Richmond returns its other four leading goal scorers from a season ago — sophomore midfielders Colbie Covington (5) and Mariana Gonzalez (5), senior forward Ashly Gonzalez (4) and Denson (3).
In addition to experience across the attacking front, Larsen said this year’s team has more speed up top than recent seasons, which he expects to pay dividends when trying to find the back of the net.
Part of that attack will be senior Hanna Smith, a multi-year starter at forward and midfielder, along with other varsity returners juniors Yulissa Avalos, Makayla Brown, Ella Gibson, senior Yarely Vargas and senior Mariana Mendez, who returns for the first time since her sophomore season.
Helping keep the midfield anchored this spring will be Mascha Theijs, a foreign exchange student from Germany with quality playing experience.
Junior Jada Scott also returns to the varsity team to help bolster the defense, as does newcomer sophomore Madisen Jackson. Joining the varsity team for their first full season are senior Genesis Alicea and sophomores Kellie Gomez and Leslie Santiago.
Richmond will play a tough non-conference schedule again this season, something Larsen believes makes the Lady Raiders more prepared for SAC opponents. Among the non-conference matchups are Jack Britt, Terry Sanford, Pine Forest, Porter Ridge and Lumberton high schools.
Within conference, the Lady Raiders will contend with Union Pines, Lee County and Pinecrest high schools, all of which finished above Richmond in the final standings last year.
Against those three teams last year, Richmond went 0-6, something Larsen hopes to shore up this season.
Assisting the Lady Raiders again this spring will be Michelle Denson and Bennie Howard, the latter of whom will also be the junior varsity head coach this season.
The Lady Raiders are set to kick off their new season Monday at home against non-conference Jack Britt High School. Junior varsity will start at 5 p.m., followed by varsity at 7 p.m.
SEASON SCHEDULE: Click here for an always up-to-date schedule for the Richmond girls’ soccer team.
The Richmond Observer will continue its award-winning coverage of the varsity and junior varsity girls soccer teams this spring.
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