SOUTHERN PINES — The Richmond girls soccer team’s return to the field after more than a week off didn’t end too well, as the Lady Raiders — for the second time this season — failed to score a goal in a mercy-rule defeat to conference foe Pinecrest.
Head coach Bennie Howard said the team not being able to hold an official practice during Spring Break due to players being “at the beach, out of the country, working, etc.” showed during the 9-0 loss on Monday.
“Not having an official practice as a team hurt us. We took our lumps, but we’re going to lick our wounds, have a great practice tomorrow and get ready for Jack Britt on Wednesday,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll be ready to play some soccer like I know we can play and see if we can get that win. Then we’d be tied with Jack Britt for second (in the conference).”
Richmond (9-3, 6-3 SAC) finished with only two shots on goal, opposed to the 30-plus that the Lady Patriots tallied, in Monday’s loss — which snapped the team’s four-game win streak.
Pinecrest (14-0-2, 9-0 SAC) got off to a fast start, similar to the teams’ first meeting, and went into the break with a 5-0 lead behind senior forward Molly Niewald’s first-half hat trick. It would score its last goal of the night in the 71st minute in order to put an early end to the conference matchup.
The Lady Raiders will host Jack Britt on Wednesday, April 11, at 6 p.m.
NOTE: Richmond’s girls junior varsity soccer team fell to Pinecrest 4-1 on Monday. Sophomore midfielder Kelsey Sheffield was the lone Lady Raider to score in the loss. The JV Lady Raiders are now 7-2 on the season.