ROCKINGHAM — The Lady Scots soccer team played a much different game in their most recent meeting with Richmond in the first round of the Southeastern conference tournament.
The Lady Scots scored in the first eight minutes of the game to take a 1-0 lead — something they hadn’t been able to accomplish in their previous two matches with the Lady Raiders. Richmond answered with two goals from senior Cassie McFayden to take a 2-1 lead into the half.
The defense for the Lady Scots continued to cause problems for Richmond in the second half, only allowing the Lady Raiders to score two more goals through the final 40 minutes of play.
The low scoring match was a stark contrast from the meetings the two rivals had during the regular season. The Lady Raiders won the last two matches by the mercy rule — ending the first and second meetings in the 71st and the 60th minutes, respectively.
Richmond’s first-round victory set up a game at Lumberton on Wednesday in the second round of the conference tournament — the Lady Raiders haven’t earned a win over Richmond in the last six years.
The Lady Scots soccer team finishes the season 1-16-2 overall and 0-10 in SEC play and will miss out on the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 4A playoffs this year.
The team only graduates two seniors — Emma Gray Beacham and Anna Griswold. The remaining players are underclassmen — 10 sophomores, three freshmen and two juniors — will, hopefully, return next season.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.