Offense was a problem for the Richmond Senior women’s soccer team a season ago, and coach Bennie Howard hopes that won’t be an issue in 2010.

In the final season of the Mid-Southeastern Conference, the Lady Raiders made the state playoffs out of the league for the eighth consecutive season. But Richmond finished under .500 for the third straight season.

The 2009 Lady Raiders’ 6-10-2 mark was the program’s worst record in the past eight years. Richmond’s main source for its struggles was a lack of scoring. The Lady Raiders were shut out in several games and outscored 52-26 overall.

“I feel like we’re more athletic this season, and there are some girls that we’re counting on to score,” Howard. “But it doesn’t matter to me who scores. I’m just hoping we will have a better season.”

At the Jamboree hosted by South View High last Saturday, Richmond’s concerns resurfaced as the Lady Raiders were blanked 5-0 by Cape Fear and 3-0 by Union Pines in their first two scrimmage games. They rebounded to tie South View, 2-2 in the final game.

“Even though we didn’t score, the positive was that we had good opportunities to score, but we just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net,” Howard said.

But Howard added that he believed Richmond improved on the defensive end as the games went along.

“I thought the eight goals we gave up in the first two games were contributed to by silly defensive mistakes,” Howard said.

“We changed our defensive formation and moved some people around, which did some good. After giving up five goals to Cape Fear, we only gave up five goals over the next two games. What I’m hoping for is that we can limit opponents offensively, and do enough scoring wise to be successful.”

Richmond’s roster is heavy with underclassmen, as the team consists of eight sophomores, six juniors, four seniors and one freshman.

“We’re very young and we’re going to have to grow up very quickly,” Howard said. “I feel like our attitude and work ethic is going to determine how well we’re going to do, because I’ve been working them really hard in practice.”

The Lady Raiders do return eight players with varsity experience: senior starting defender Ashley Hillenburg; senior midfielder Chelsea Adams; senior defender Eyssa Rivera; junior starting defender Vanessa Franco; junior starting midfielder Rebecca Brand; junior forward Celeste Salgado; sophomore starting midfielder Brittany Hudson and sophomore starting goalkeeper Brittney Roberts.

Adams returns to the program after not playing as a junior. But Howard added Richmond will be without one of its key players in Rivera for the first couple weeks of the season due to injury. Howard said Rivera suffered a grade one sprain or tear of her MCL in her right knee during the jamboree.

Richmond will have nine players off the J.V. team up on the varsity. Howard said the Lady Raiders also have one senior exchange student from Brazil named Vanessa Rivetti, who will be playing defender.

Howard added the lone freshman on the team is forward Kim Smith. Howard said Smith has a strong leg and should help the team offensively.

Howard acknowledged that perennial power Pinecrest will be the favorite to win the new Southeastern Conference, while Lumberton probably the second-best team in the league.

Nonetheless, Howard has high expectations for his squad.

“Our goal is to hopefully finish as high as second, make the state playoffs and advance to the second round,” Howard said. “We haven’t done those things in a while, but I feel like those are realistic goals.”

Richmond opens the season on the road against Terry Sanford at 7 p.m. on Monday. The top-seeded Lady Bulldogs blanked the Lady Raiders, 4-0 in the first round of the 2009 state playoffs.

“Last year, they had six or seven freshmen, so they’re going to be pretty good this season,” Howard said.

“Their best player is part of the Olympic Development program. Hopefully, they’re going to be rusty, but I expect us to give them a good game. If we can come away with a win or a close loss that would also be a positive.”

Smith returns to coach J.V. squad

Rebekah Smith will be coaching the J.V. team for the second straight season. Smith will be helped by new assistant Michelle Denson, who Howard said will also help out on varsity.

Howard said Smith did a solid job in her first season a year ago.

“It may not have showed in wins or losses, but Rebekah did a great job of teaching those J.V. girls fundamentals and tactics of the game,” Howard said.

Howard added Smith will be coaching 15 freshmen and three sophomores this season.

“She has some good athletes, but nobody that knows how to play the game,” Howard said. “Hopefully, Rebekah will be able to teach them how to play.”

The J.V. Raiders kick off the season at Terry Sanford at 5:30 p.m. March 1.

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