ROCKINGHAM — A heavily-contested shot attempt from Jessi Graham rolled wide right in the closing seconds of Monday’s non-conference matchup, and for the second consecutive game, the Richmond Senior girls soccer team tied with its opponent on its home field.

It looked as if Richmond was on the path to losing its first game of the season, as Pine Forest held a 2-0 lead with less than 15 minutes left. Graham, however, got the Lady Raiders on the board after receiving a well-placed cross from sophomore midfielder Chloe Wiggins. Teammate Morgan Hooks would add the second goal a little more than three minutes later.

And the match would end in a 2-2 tie.

“For us to be down 2-0 and score two goals in the last 13 minutes, that’s a little growing spurt right there. So I’m pleased with that and I’m hoping that we can build off this,” coach Bennie Howard said. “And it was good to see that Jessi and Morgan scored because, since the scrimmages, they’ve not scored. It was nice to get them in the scoring column and get that monkey off their back.”

Kaylee Kraus recorded both scores for Pine Forest. The senior midfielder’s first score came in the 16th minute, while the second one was celebrated in the second half after she took advantage of a one-on-one opportunity with Richmond goalie Tatyana Gould.

A free kick from Altman Griffin in the first half almost made its way into the net but Cassie Sturtz (Pine Forest) reached over her head for one of her multiple saves on the night. Cassie McFayden would miss a close one at the 30:43 mark in the second half.

“Had we lost, it would’ve been a night of missed opportunities because we had some (opportunities) to put some (goals) in the back of the net — just like they did,” Howard said. “Once again, I don’t think we played a full 80 minutes. And as Chris (Larsen) said, we’re about two inches away from being a really, really good team — if they just listen, work hard and fight for the ball. That’s got to be consistent among everybody.”

Richmond (2-0-2) will have a couple of days to practice before hitting the road to take on High Point Central on Thursday.

Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.

Leon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal Pine Forest’s Gretchen Evans (12) and Richmond Senior’s Jessi Grahman (15) battle for the ball during Monday’s non-conference matchup in Rockingham. The match would end in a 2-2 tie, as the Lady Raiders scored their two goals in the last 12 minutes. Grahman recorded Richmond’s first goal in the 69th minute off a cross from Chloe Wiggins, while Morgan Hooks was able to find the back of the net a little more than three minutes later. Grahman got off a contested shot in the closing seconds, but it sailed wide right as time expired. Kaylee Kraus scored both goals for Pine Forest on the night, recording one in the first half and one in the second. Richmond, who also tied with Union Pines on Friday, is now 2-0-2 on the season and will travel to High Point Central on Thursday.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_tangle-3.jpgLeon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal Pine Forest’s Gretchen Evans (12) and Richmond Senior’s Jessi Grahman (15) battle for the ball during Monday’s non-conference matchup in Rockingham. The match would end in a 2-2 tie, as the Lady Raiders scored their two goals in the last 12 minutes. Grahman recorded Richmond’s first goal in the 69th minute off a cross from Chloe Wiggins, while Morgan Hooks was able to find the back of the net a little more than three minutes later. Grahman got off a contested shot in the closing seconds, but it sailed wide right as time expired. Kaylee Kraus scored both goals for Pine Forest on the night, recording one in the first half and one in the second. Richmond, who also tied with Union Pines on Friday, is now 2-0-2 on the season and will travel to High Point Central on Thursday.

 

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

[email protected]