Contributed by Jimmy McDonald Bennie Howard and his Richmond boys soccer team were eliminated from the 4A state playoffs by Heritage, 6-1.

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WAKE FOREST — The Richmond Senior boys soccer team had its state playoff losing streak stretched to four games following its 6-1 loss at Heritage Wednesday night.

The Huskies (15-7) led 5-0 at halftime. Brandon Greene scored the only goal for the Raiders on a long kick which sailed over the Heritage goalkeeper’s outstretched arms.

“We had a hard time marking up and we didn’t communicate very well in the first half,” Richmond coach Bennie Howard said. “I would say four of the first five goals were soft.”

Richmond ends its season with an 11-6-3 mark. The Raiders’ last state playoff victory came in 2008, when they knocked off Hoggard 2-1 in overtime in the first round. The team lost in the next round, falling 1-0 to East Chapel Hill.

“We had a very good year and we have a good group coming back,” Howard said. “I appreciate everything the seniors did for us.”

Heritage will take on the winner of the Holly Springs-Riverside contest in the second round.

In playoff games involving other Southeastern Conference members: Pinecrest advanced with a 3-1 victory over Clayton. The Patriots, the SEC regular season and tournament champions, will face either Terry Sanford or Harnett Central in the next round. South View ended Lumberton’s season with a 4-3 win in double overtime. The Tigers will battle Hoggard, a 4-2 winner over Jack Britt. Enloe blanked Hoke County 4-0 to advance for a second-round matchup with Green Hope. The Falcons shutout Northern Durham 5-0.

Tennis duo named All-SEC

ROCKINGHAM — Richmond Senior placed two girls tennis players on this year’s All-Southeastern Conference team.

Caroline Kirkland and Katy Shelley were selected to the squad. Kirkland was the Raiders’ No. 1 singles player, while Shelley played at No. 2. The pair joined forces as Richmond’s top doubles team.

Pinecrest’s Caroline Decker was named the SEC’s player of the year, while Scotland’s Jeanne Roller was selected as the conference’s coach of the year.

— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com.