Every year since the Mid-Southeastern Conference was formed in 2002, the Richmond women’s soccer team have qualified for the state playoffs.

In the conference’s last year, the Lady Raiders are looking to continue its tradition.

Last season, Richmond finished 10-11 overall and were fifth in the league with a 7-7 conference mark. The Lady Raiders were shutout in the first round 8-0 by top seed East Forsyth.

Richmond has been the conference’s fifth seed the last two seasons, which is something Lady Raiders coach Bennie Howard is hoping to avoid this time.

“Hopefully, this year we can improve our position in the conference to second, third or fourth instead of being fifth,” Howard said. “That may give us a better opportunity to advance (in the playoffs).”

The playoff defeat to the Lady Eagles highlighted the team’s lack of scoring, which plagued the Lady Raiders in 2008, when they were shutout in 10 of its 11 losses.

“I’m hoping we can increase our goal production for this coming year, and cut down on our goals against,” Howard said.

The Lady Raiders return five starters— juniors Vanessa Franco, Stephanie Martin, Katelyn Smith and Michelle Brown and senior Camilla Villman.

Brown had off-season right ankle surgery, and is expecting to be back in late March or early April.

According to Howard, seniors Amparo Mollinedo and Tia Gladden are expected to be in the starting lineup after sitting out last season.

Freshman Brittany Hudson from the Richmond Ninth Grade Academy is also expected to start as well.

“She grew up playing soccer, and is an all-around athlete,” Howard said. “I’m kind of putting a lot of pressure on her because we’re building this team around her.”

Junior Elyssa Rivera will be the Lady Raiders’ starting goalkeeper, and has some experience playing the position.

“She was a goalie when she was a ninth grader, but I had her play in the field last year,” Howard said. “She is either 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10, which is good size. She’s working hard and I expect her to come around and be a good goalie for us.”

Howard got his first glance of his squad last Saturday in a 16-team scrimmage at South View High School in Hope Mills. However, the Lady Raiders dropped all three of their games.

“I told the girls it was a learning experience,” Howard explained. “The mistakes we made are correctable. For us to be successful, we’ve got to play good fundamental soccer, which is doing the simple things well. We’ve got to put passes together, and when we have an opportunity to score, we’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net. We may not have many chances in a game.”

Howard believes Pinecrest will again be at the top of the MSEC, followed by Jack Britt, while Richmond, Scotland and Hoke are expected to fight for the next three spots.

“We can be a .500 or better team, but we’ve got to win the ones we should and play tough in the ones, we aren’t expected to win,” Howard said. “Maybe we can sneak one here or there. I told the girls we’ve got to work hard and have fun in the games.”

The Lady Raiders host Southwest Randolph at Raider Stadium on Monday at 6 p.m.

JV Lady Raiders gearing up for the season

The Lady Raiders junior varsity soccer team will have an old face in the program as their new coach.

Rebecca Smith, who was a four-year starter on both the JV and varsity, takes over as coach of the junior varsity team. After graduating from Richmond in 2005, Smith attended the University of North Carolina-Greensboro where she earned her degree.

According to Howard, Smith is working on her masters and is hoping to be a teacher and coach. Smith’s team will consist of two juniors, four sophomores and 12 freshmen.

“I feel like she is going to do a good job, but she will have to do a lot of teaching and coaching,” Howard said. “But we got some good young athletes, which hopefully will turn into good soccer players in the future.”

The JV Lady Raiders open the season playing host to Jack Britt on March 16 at 5:30 p.m.

n Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com