PHOTOS: Hot temperature welcomes Raider soccer during first day

ROCKINGHAM — With the late afternoon sun bearing down on the pitch, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ soccer program got its season started Wednesday.

Joining in on the first official day of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s fall sports season, the Raiders held their first tryout.

More than 50 players participated in the first of three required tryouts. Split between upper and lower classmen, the student-athletes were led by seventh-year head coach Chris Larsen.

Assisting with the younger players were longtime staple Bennie Howard and Jessi Weigman, a former Richmond soccer player.

Following stretching and running to warm up, players worked on footwork, passing and ball control drills. The majority of the time was spent playing small-sided games.

Thursday and Friday will see the hopeful Raiders complete two more days of tryouts. The final rosters will be posted following the final day.

The varsity Raiders will have a quick turnaround and compete in a preseason jamboree at West Cabarrus High School Saturday. Games will start at 8:50 a.m.

The Richmond Observer will publish a season preview, complete with a schedule and video interviews, in the coming weeks.

Below are photos of Wednesday’s soccer tryout, taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.