ROCKINGHAM — In the penultimate article of The Richmond Observer’s review series of the 2025-26 athletic calendar, the Richmond Lady Raider soccer team is featured.
Unlike other teams and articles in this month’s review, the Lady Raiders’ top moment this season wasn’t a win.
Instead, it was a scoreless draw against Pinecrest High School toward the end of the regular season. Richmond kept Pinecrest out of the net in a double-overtime thriller.
That draw was Pinecrest’s only blemish in an otherwise perfect season against Mid-South Conference opponents. The match also helped Richmond make the 7A state playoffs.
Read the original article from May 3, 2026:
ROCKINGHAM — One of its best performances of the season came against perhaps its toughest opponent for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team Friday.
Ending their Mid-South Conference regular-season schedule at home, the Lady Raiders held the 2026 conference champion in check.
Hosting Pinecrest High School, Richmond played 100 minutes of scoreless soccer to draw even 0-0 with the Lady Patriots.
Chalking it up as a victory of sorts, the Lady Raiders became the first MSC team all season to tie Pinecrest and keep the Lady Patriots (15-0-4, 9-0-1 MSC) scoreless in a match.
Credited with the shutout performance was junior goalkeeper Kenley Smith, who played the entire match between the posts.
Late in regulation, Smith made a one-handed swatting save on a dart to the upper corner to her left, which proved pivotal in securing the draw.
Head coach Chris Larsen said afterward that the Lady Raiders played quality soccer as an entire unit for the entire match.
“We may have defended our zone for 95 minutes, but we played some of the best defense I’ve seen in a long time,” Larsen said. “I can’t say enough about our entire back line on defense and Kenley. They worked so hard the entire match to limit (Pinecrest’s) chances and it paid off.
“Mariana Gonzalez and Madisen Jackson both played a big part at holding mid and both made some key plays tonight,” he added.
“We may not have scored, but our defensive performance was really impressive. I’m proud of the girls for staying tough and playing a full 100 minutes.”
The Lady Raiders (5-11-3, 1-7-2 MSC) will play two final regular-season non-conference matches next week to try and better their chances of making the postseason.
First will be a road match at Montgomery Central High School (9-9-1) Tuesday at 6 p.m.
