Randolph-Henry High School’s varsity boys soccer team is greeted with high expectations this year, and it has experienced a bit of everything only three games into the season.

The Statesmen suffered a 4-1 home loss to Goochland High School on Monday, but they defeated host Central Lunenburg High School 5-1 on Thursday and opened the season March 15 with a 2-2 tie against visiting Bluestone High School. Darkness prevented the season opener from proceeding to overtime.

Randolph-Henry also tied the Barons 2-2 last season.

The Statesmen finished their 2016 campaign with a 10-5-2 record, including a Courthouse Conference 37 tournament loss to Chatham High School.

Four R-H soccer players graduated after the season, including Christian Pinchefsky, Noah Pinchefsky, Josh Brown and Jason Moorehead.

The 2017 Statesmen feature seven seniors, five sophomores, four juniors and two freshmen.

“I am hopeful that we will get pretty far in the postseason,” R-H Head Coach Patrick Shay said. “The team is made up of a motivated group of guys that will give the team all they have.”

Statesmen captains include senior goalkeeper John Walker, senior midfielder/forward Shayne Maloney, senior defender Michael Nichols and senior forward Caleb Chadwick.

Walker, Nichols, Chadwick and Maloney are returners who made the all-conference first team last year, along with senior defender Christopher Nichols.

Shay noted that six players on the team have little to no experience playing soccer but are learning the rules and positions and their contributions are increasing each day. These players include freshman Mathew Aydlett, junior Evan Czaplicki, sophomore Christian Dunn, sophomore Billy French, junior Hurley Noblin, and senior Spencer Parrish.

R-H (1-1-1) visits Amelia County High School on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and hosts Prince Edward County High School on Wednesday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m.