Four Lady Raiders voted to All-Conference soccer team

ROCKINGHAM — A total of four Lady Raider soccer players from Richmond Senior High School were voted to the 2024 All-Sandhills Athletic Conference team this season.

Head coach Chris Larsen released Richmond’s selections Tuesday after all the remaining SAC teams were eliminated from the NCHSAA 4A and 3A East state playoffs.

Junior goalkeeper Sa’Quanna Bostic not only made her first All-Conference team, she was chosen as one of the SAC’s Co-Goalkeepers of the Year.

Senior midfielder Gabby Lutz capped her illustrious varsity career with her third consecutive All-SAC bid. For Rodgers and Barnes, this season was each player’s first career postseason nod.

This season the Lady Raider soccer team went 9-13-3 overall and had a 4-7-1 record against SAC opponents. Finishing fourth in the conference standings, Richmond returned to the 4A East playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.

“It’s always great to recognize our players who put forth a strong effort all season,” Larsen shared. “All four girls are definitely deserving to be named All-Conference. While I wish we could have had more on the team, these four ladies did their jobs and helped the team in ways that show up on and off the stat sheet.

“Gabby has been a three-year starter for us and she’s been All-Conference all three years. She does so much in the middle of the field to orchestrate our offense to get scoring runs going and also works back to help defensively.

“Quanna is one of the toughest goalkeepers in the state,” he continued. “She isn’t afraid to challenge shooters and was aggressive in the net. She’s gotten more confident and that really showed. Quanna faced a lot of shots this season and made a lot of quality saves.

“Allie was our leading goal scorer and she helped set the tone up top. It’s good for her to end her career with her first selection. New to the team this year, Sam fit right in and really bolstered our defensive line. She made lots of plays to stop goal-scoring chances and she’ll hopefully get better as a senior.”

Lee County High School’s Gillian Garrison was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Ava Depenbrock (Pinecrest High School) was the other Co-Goalkeeper of the Year.

Splitting Defensive Player of the Year were Kylie Demayo (Union Pines High School) and Ava Perez (Lee County). Anna Fish (Southern Lee High School) was voted Coach of the Year.

Sa’Quann Bostic, junior goalkeeper

Playing her third season as Richmond’s starting varsity goalkeeper, Bostic showcased the aggressive style of play she’s made herself known for. Not afraid to come off her line, Bostic challenged shooters and routinely made athletic stops.

Ranked first in the SAC with 213 total saves, Bostic was also second in the conference in minutes played (1,590) and saves per match (9.26).

Bostic allowed 2.36 goals per match while facing some of the highest-scoring teams across the state. While in goal, Bostic recorded six shutout wins.

During Richmond’s playoff match against Millbrook High School, she made an impressive 38 saves.

“Being named co-goalkeeper of the year is truly an honor that I deeply appreciate,” Bostic shared. “It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication and support from my teammates and coaches. This recognition motivates me to continue pushing myself and striving for excellence on and off the field.

“I’m grateful to be considered one of the top keepers in the conference, and I’m proud to represent our team in such a positive way,” she added. “I couldn’t have achieved this without the support from my coaches. Their encouragement and guidance have been instrumental in my success.”

Bostic noted that “Being dominant this season was a result of a combination of factors. I worked with my coaches to improve my positioning, shot-stopping abilities and distribution. I developed a strong understanding of the game by studying opponents’ tendencies and analyzing their shooting patterns. This allowed me to anticipate their moves and react quickly in crucial moments. The support from my teammates and the trust we built as a unit played a significant role in my performance.”

“As a senior, I aim to continue growing and evolving as a goalkeeper,” Bostic continued. “I plan to work on my communication skills, becoming a vocal leader on the field to organize my teammates.

“I plan to also focus on maintaining my physical fitness and mental resilience to perform consistently at a high level. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to contributing to the team’s success in my final year.”

Gabby Lutz, senior midfielder

Also a three-year varsity starter, Lutz captained the Lady Raiders this season in her role as a center midfielder. Not a flashy position that sees a lot recorded on the stat sheet, Lutz was a physical presence on both sides of the ball.

Helping swing momentum toward the net or away from Richmond’s defensive zone, Lutz used her high soccer IQ to keep opposing teams off balanced. She also excelled as a facilitator, finding open lanes and creating scoring chances with quick decision making and precision passing.

Crowned Richmond’s penalty kick champion, Lutz registered all of her goals this season from the PK line. She scored four penalty kicks — one each against Uwharrie Charter, Independence, Asheboro and Union Pines.

Credited with two assists, Lutz had helpers in victories over Whiteville and Scotland.

“I’m very honored to have been selected all three years,” Lutz shared. “And I’m grateful that I was picked for the varsity team my tenth grade year because not everyone gets that opportunity. I feel like the consistency in how I play night in and night out has been one of my greatest strengths and this (selection) is representative of that.

“My time under Coach Larsen taught me that you don’t just have to be imposing to earn others’ respect and that success can be measured in small steps, not just big goals. I believe that being a Raider soccer player will help me succeed in the future because it taught me the value of working even when no one is watching.”

Allie Rodgers, senior forward

One of the longest-tenured varsity players in recent years, Rodgers capped a four-year varsity career as Richmond’s leading goal scorer.

Playing up top at forward, Rodgers netted 17 goals as a senior, tying the second-highest single-season tally in her four seasons. Her 17 goals were tied for seventh-most in the SAC.

Recording five multi-goal performances, Rodgers had two goals twice. She registered a trio of hat tricks this season — in victories over Jack Britt and Scotland (twice).

Rodgers was tied for third on the team with two assists. One of her helpers came against Jack Britt in the season opener, which added to a seven-point match with three goals and one assist.

“It’s very special to close out my season and career like this,” Rodgers said. “The support and encouragement from my teammates allowed me to be successful this season.

“Getting to play my last year with Jenna (Gardner) and Samantha (Barnes) was very special to me. Some of my favorite memories from the past four years are the playoff game two years ago when we went to Wilmington and listening to all of Bennie’s (Howard) commentary during every game the last four years.”

Samantha Barnes, junior center back

Transferring in from Scotland County this school year, Barnes put a lid on a successful three-sport junior year with her first career All-SAC soccer recognition.

Barnes was part of a back line at Richmond that held opponents to just 2.36 goals per match and a total of six shutouts. Known for her feisty play, Barnes used her speed and grit to corner off opponents and disrupt offensive rushes.

Along with Bostic, Barnes will be a returner next spring and she hopes to make a bigger impact with her leadership skills.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to earn all-conference,” Barnes commented. “This season was new and exciting, and talking to my teammates and listening to my coaches led me to being successful on defense.

“I hope to improve and embrace my leadership role by challenging my team to meet during the offseason to play soccer,” she continued.

“This will help build our communication, skills and trust to ensure we have a successful soccer team. I hope my positive energy and guidance will lead us into the playoffs. I’m hopeful when all those pieces are put into place that we get a higher seed in the playoffs.”

Sports editor’s note: All statistics used in this article used from MaxPreps.