In a one-game playoff scenario, anything can happen, like a lower seed beating a higher seed.

The fifth-seeded Richmond Lady Raiders soccer team will try to pull off the upset when they travel to Fayetteville and take on top seed Terry Sanford at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

This will mark the third straight season, Richmond will enter the postseason as the No. 5 seed.

Richmond finished the regular season with a overall record of 6-11-2 and 6-8 in the Mid-Southeastern Conference, while the Lady Bulldogs (16-2-1) were the Two Rivers’ regular season conference champions.

Terry Sanford went undefeated in the conference during the regular season, but the Lady Bulldogs were upset in the Two Rivers’ conference tournament championship game when they were blanked 1-0 by Lumberton (the third place team) last Thursday night.

According to Lady Raiders coach Bennie Howard, the two teams were slated to have played during the regular season, but a scheduling mix-up forced the teams to cancel the game.

Taylor Cavzos scored a team-high 24 goals for Terry Sanford, which was two less than the 26 total goals Richmond scored this season.

“They’re a quality team from what I’ve heard start about five or six freshmen in their lineup,” Howard said. “We’re going to have to play a very good game, which includes playing mistake free and being 100 percent focused to be competitive. I want us to play a game where we represent Richmond and the conference very well.”

Although the Lady Raiders are dealing with nagging injuries to Vanessa Franco, Stephanie Martin and Rebecca Brand, Howard expects all them to be ready to play Tuesday.

The Lady Raiders were blanked in their previous two postseason trips. An 8-0 loss to East Forsyth last season and a 7-0 defeat to New Hanover in 2007.

Last year, the Lady Raiders went scoreless in nine games. This season, Richmond has been shutout six times with the opponents outscoring the Lady Raiders 67-26.

“Our Achilles’ heel over the past couple years has been scoring on a consistent basics,” Howard said. “In games this season, we’ve had opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net, but failed to convert or take advantage of our chances. If we’re going to become an above .500 team in the future, then that’s something we definitely have to get better at.”

According to Howard, Richmond should have most of the team returning next season, including Brittney Hudson. Hudson started as a freshman this season and tied senior Amparo Mollinedo with a team-high eight goals on the year.

“I switched Brittney from forward to midfielder during the season, and she did a good job for us this season,” Howard said. “What I love about Brittney is the way she hustles and the enthusiasm about which she plays the game. I’m hoping her play will rub off on some of our returning players and those coming up and joining the team.”

Howard said he enjoyed working with the team, but admitted he had hope for a better season. Like Terry Sanford, which fields players that have travel ball experience, Howard is requiring all of his players next season to play travel soccer in the offseason.

“In the fall, there is a travel soccer league in Scotland County that will go about six or seven weeks starting in October and lasting until November,” Howard said. “It’s mandatory for the girls who are planning to play to get involved. A lot of the boys’ soccer players are involved in it right now. There is also going to be assistance from players from Saint Andrews (Presbyterian) College that will be doing some instruction during some camps this summer. Hopefully, these things will help us get better as a program in the future.”

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