Late goal forces extra time, Lady Raiders draw with Hoke County

RAEFORD — For the second time this week, the Richmond Senior High School girls soccer team played 100 competitive minutes Friday.

Traveling to Hoke County High School, the Lady Raiders ended the Sandhills Athletic Conference match in a 1-1 draw.

Scoreless at halftime, the Lady Bucks netted the first goal early in the second half. Richmond tied the score in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force the two mandatory 10-minute overtime periods.

Neither team was able to score in extra time, leading to the Lady Raiders’ third draw this season and first in conference play.

“We didn’t show up to play tonight,” head coach Chris Larsen said. “There was not a lot of energy in the first half. Hoke had two quality chances tonight and was able to score on one of them.

“After we went down 1-0 on a ball we misjudged, the girls picked up pace like we should have off the first whistle. From there we created some chances and were fortunate to tie it up.”

Near the 70th minute, senior Allie Rodgers made a breakaway run through the back line. In what Larsen called “an intentional move to stop a goal-scoring opportunity,” Rodgers was upended by Hoke County’s keeper.

Following a red card and the switching of keeper’s, Richmond was given a free kick just outside the 18-yard box.

Junior Ashly Gonzalez took the kick and sent it low and hard to the left side of the wall and into the net to knot the game 1-1.

With a boost of momentum, Larsen said the Lady Raiders “took it to (Hoke County) the last nine minutes of regulation.”

Gonzalez had another free kick in the closing minutes and hit the back post. There to collect the loose change, junior Hanna Smith put a shot on the keeper but the ball was eventually cleared.

“We had a few more chances in overtime, but never really got any quality looks to finish out the win,” Larsen said of extra time. “We really need to focus during our last two weeks of the regular season, especially with the tough competition we’re playing.”

Another three-match week awaits the Lady Raiders (7-6-3, 3-4-1 SAC) starting Tuesday at Union Pines High School at 7 p.m.

The two SAC teams met last week and Richmond was edged in the second half in a 3-2 loss.

Sports editor’s note: The Richmond junior varsity soccer team’s match was canceled Friday.