FAYETTEVILLE — Two nights after being everywhere but in the back of the net, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team had no trouble scoring Wednesday.
Playing their first road match of the season, the Lady Raiders defeated non-conference Terry Sanford High School 3-1.
Head coach Chris Larsen said Wednesday's win was partly a result of carrying over momentum from Monday’s opener, as well as quality team play.
“At halftime I told the girls they were doing a fantastic job controlling the ball, hitting our passing lanes and connecting passes,” Larsen said. “We really looked like a soccer team.
“The girls continued to do all of those things in the second half,” he added. “We kept doing what was working and it paid off. Tonight was the best team play I’ve seen in a long time. If we clean up some small things, we’ll be successful this year.”
Scoring for the Lady Raiders, in order, were sophomore Colbie Covington, sophomore Mariana Gonzalez and senior Hanna Smith. Gonzalez and Smith were also credited with an assist.
Covington made it a 1-0 lead for Richmond in the first couple of minutes, blasting a close-range shot past the keeper for her second tally in as many matches this spring.
Gonzalez got the assist after collecting a loose ball inside the 18-yard box and passing it to Covington.
The one-goal lead would last through the end of the first half and until Terry Sanford (1-1) scored a goal near the midway point of the second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Leslie Santiago got her hands on the shot but wasn’t able to stop it completely.
Larsen said Richmond was able to “capitalize on making runs down the line,” so that’s what the Lady Raiders did to record their final two goals.
Gonzalez scored the game-winning goal in the closing 20 minutes, tapping in a shot that was threaded to her inside the box from Smith.
Smith, who has two assists this season, was rewarded with her first goal to seal the victory. Making a run down the right side, she blasted a 15-yard shot to the far post with five minutes left in regulation.
The Lady Raiders (1-1) will end their opening week on the road at non-conference Pine Forest High School Friday. The match will start at 6 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders also get first win
Playing ahead of the varsity team Wednesday, the Richmond junior varsity girls’ soccer team entered the win column, too.
The JV Lady Raiders broke a 1-1 tie at halftime to earn a 3-1 victory over Terry Sanford.
Scoring two goals in the win was sophomore forward Cadence Gazoo, who brought her season total to three goals in two matches.
Gazoo scored a breakaway goal in the first half and added an insurance goal in the second half.
Freshman striker Isabella Chavez recorded the eventual game-winning goal on a penalty kick early in the second half, her first goal of the season.
“We played better in spurts tonight,” head coach Bennie Howard said. “I’m happy with the win, but we still have a long way to go fitness and soccer IQ wise.”
The JV Lady Raiders (1-1) will get the rest of the week off and return to play West Cabarrus High School at home next Wednesday. That match will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics and game information provided by Chris Larsen and Bennie Howard.
