ROCKINGHAM — Starting with Wednesday’s home match against Jack Britt, the Raiders were on a quest to “run the table” in their last five games of the regular season.

Things started off well for the Richmond boys soccer team, as senior striker Brett Baucom scored the game’s first goal inside the 15th minute after junior Carlos Alcocer made contact with the ball before falling to the gound.

But two second-half goals from Jack Britt, a late score from Alcocer, and neither team being able to find the back of the net in overtime led to the conference match ending in a 2-2 tie.

“That hurt us in our quest to try to run the table and put ourselves in position to maybe move up a few spots (in the conference), since the state is only taking two teams (for the playoffs),” head coach Bennie Howard said. “We’re going to have to have a mircale to even come close.”

Baucom’s score, which shot into the bottom left corner of the net, gave the home team a 1-0 lead that it was able to keep heading into halftime. The Raiders almost went ahead two scores in the 37th minute, but a header from senior striker Jonathan Tadlock — following an Alcocer pass — rolled off the top of the goal post.

Jack Britt tied the game in the 57th minute and then took a one-goal lead on senior midfielder Brennan Herbert’s free kick nearly 10 minutes later. Herbert’s shot hit the legs of a few Raiders before bouncing off the ground and into the net.

With time racing against Richmond (8-6-1, 5-4-1 SAC), Alcocer dribbled down the right side of the field and lofted the ball into the air and over the head of Jack Britt senior goalkeeper Hunter Novy with only 2:39 left in the game.

Alcocer had a chance at a free kick with less than two minutes to play but his attempt was blocked, as was Tadlock’s rebound shot after Alcocer’s kick rolled off Novy’s chest.

“Really, no team had a good (scoring) opportunity in overtime. But I’m proud of the way we played tonight. I can’t ask for any more than what they did,” Howard added.

Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.

Leon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond’s Carlos Alcocer (9) sends the ball during the second half of Wednesday home match against Jack Britt, which ended in a 2-2 tie after neither team was able to score in overtime.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_alc.jpgLeon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond’s Carlos Alcocer (9) sends the ball during the second half of Wednesday home match against Jack Britt, which ended in a 2-2 tie after neither team was able to score in overtime.
Howard: Neither team had good opportunity in OT

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

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