Playing a ranked team for the seventh time won’t help get the South Effingham Lady Mustangs ready for the Class AAA state soccer playoffs, coach Kendrick Buckner said.

The eight days of practice between their loss in the Region 3-AAA tournament and their state playoff opener just might.

“I think it’s very good we have eight practice days before we go,” she said after the 5-1 loss to No. 7-rankd Richmond Hill on Friday night. “We’ll use that time as best we can. It’s time to condition and to focus.”

Loralee Powell’s first-half goal was the only marker for the Lady Mustangs, who lost their previous three meetings with the Lady Wildcats by a combined 9-0.

Lauren Hall scored twice for Richmond Hill (15-1, 7-1 in the region). Lori Barnes, Laura Nunnery and Jennifer Adams each added goals.

The Lady Mustangs likely will play at No. 5-ranked Columbus, the Region 2-AAA champ, on April 26. They are used to playing ranked teams this season, having played Richmond Hill four times and No. 8-ranked St. Vincent’s twice.

In the meantime, the Lady Mustangs will be going to work — a lot — on their deficiencies.

“We’ve pinpointed the major areas,” Buckner said. “We’ve conveyed how to fix them. I think it’s going to have to be repetition, where they do it over and over again.”