ROCKINGHAM — Back-to-back seasons of making the state playoffs has set the tone and expectations for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team this spring.
With the dawning of a new campaign set to begin this week, the Lady Raiders and eighth year head coach Chris Larsen are hoping to keep that trend going.
Penciling in the playoffs as a goal the team hopes to achieve again this season, Richmond will have to do it with a much different looking roster. In addition to roster changes, the Lady Raiders will also compete in a tough realigned Mid-South Conference.
Unlike last season’s team, which returned 14 players, this year’s squad will look to remain competitive with just a handful of returning starters.
Not deterred by the upcoming season of anticipated growth and development, Larsen said it’s a welcomed challenge the whole team is taking in stride.
Last spring, the Lady Raiders put together an 8-12-3 overall record and finished in fifth place in the former Sandhills Athletic Conference standings with a 5-7 record.
The roster this spring is full of talent, Larsen explained, but one that doesn’t have a lot of playing experience at the speed and pace of the varsity level. That has been a big area of focus during the preseason and during four scrimmages over the past weekend.
All but depleted is Richmond’s defensive line from last year, with senior center back Jentry Denson serving as the only returning starter after the other three graduated. Two of those players were All-Conference defenders Samantha Barnes and Ava Thompson.
The only other returning starters who played significant minutes last season include junior midfielders Colbie Covington and Mariana Gonzalez, Richmond’s returning leading goal scorers from a season ago (both scored seven goals).
At outside mid, Covington returns to be a spark down the left sideline and create scoring chances for the offense. Gonzalez will continue her role as the Lady Raiders’ holding center midfielder and help direct traffic and facilitate the ball.
The Lady Raiders have several players back this season who are going to be expected to fill a larger role. Among those players is senior defender Jada Scott, who played some minutes of defense as a junior.
Other returners who recorded some varsity action last year are senior midfielder Makayla Brown, juniors Cadence Gazoo (forward), Kellie Gomez (midfielder), Madisen Jackson (midfielder), Leslie Santiago (midfielder) and sophomore midfielders Erin Drumwright and Mavery Hooks.
Making the full time jump to varsity this season are juniors Allison Sanchez and Janet Zapata Morales. Senior Ella Gibson also returns to the team after not playing last season.
An influx of freshman talent boasts five players who are making the jump straight from middle school to varsity – Breanna Bullard, Nayeli Chavez, Alley Crouch, Rylee DeCubellis and Kaylea Peele.
Larsen plans to mix the freshmen into different lineups to build their skill and pace more quickly to benefit the team in the long run.
He noted that Peele will spend a lot of time up top assisting Covington on the attack. Bullard and Crouch, Larsen anticipates, will help the Lady Raiders on defense.
Perhaps the biggest void to fill is between the posts, following the graduation of Sa’Quanna Bostic, last season’s conference goalkeeper of the year. Stepping up to the challenge to learn a new role has been junior Kenley Smith, who returns to playing soccer for the first time since her freshman season.
In addition to facing familiar conference foes Hoke County and Pinecrest high schools, the Lady Raiders will face Jack Britt, Overhills and Pine Forest high schools as part of their new MSC slate.
Jack Britt was a former conference opponent and Pine Forest has been a regular non-conference opponent for Richmond in recent seasons. Larsen noted that Jack Britt and Overhills will be “tough teams” to face twice a year.
The Lady Raiders begin their regular season campaign Wednesday at non-conference Porter Ridge High School. Game time for the varsity-only match is set for 6 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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