Field hockey loses to Stanford in final home game

The University of Richmond field hockey team lost at home against Stanford University 2-1 on Oct. 23. 

Throughout the first half, neither team was able to break into the scoring column, showing how evenly matched the Spiders and the Cardinal were. The Spiders took three shots on goal during the first two periods, whereas the Cardinal took two. 

The game remained 0-0 until sophomore forward Stevie Drum scored with 6:09 remaining in the third period after UR’s defense was able to block several Cardinal corners earlier in the period. Senior midfielder and defender Tess Keppel and first-year midfielder Jess McMeeking both assisted on the goal. 

With Drum’s goal, the Spiders carried a 1-0 lead into the final period. 

However, almost two minutes into the fourth period, the Cardinal tied the game after setting up back-to-back corners. The Cardinal took seven corners over the course of the game compared to the Spiders’ three. 

The Cardinal scored again with 1:54 remaining in the game, putting the team up by one goal. From there, the Spiders did have one more corner opportunity, but the team was unable to score again.

UR head coach Jamie Montgomery said overall she was proud of the effort and the energy the team brought to the game. 

“I was proud of the way we came back after we got scored on the second time,” Montgomery said. “I think we didn’t manage possession very well in that third quarter and that led to a little bit of instability in the fourth quarter.”

This loss brings the Spiders’ record to 6-11. The team began the season with a 5-3 record, but from Sept. 26 to Oct. 14, the Spiders lost six straight games — three of which were against ranked teams. 

From there, the team bounced back with a win away against Bucknell University on Oct. 16, putting an end to an almost month-long losing stretch. However, on Oct. 23, the team lost to No. 20 University of Massachusetts, making the loss against Stanford its second in a row. 

“I think that we put them under some great pressure,” Keppel said. “We came out and we played the way we wanted to play — put ‘em under pressure, got a goal. We just need to play 60 minutes and we weren’t able to finish that today.”

This being the Spiders’ last home game of the season, the team honored its seniors before play began. Six seniors were recognized: Keppel, defender Sutton Orndorff, forward Evie Hanson, midfielder Lindsey Frank, midfielder Regan McCrossan and goalkeeper Erika Latta. 

“I think they’ve left a really nice legacy on the program,” Montgomery said. “They’re a hard-working group of girls and they’ve really stepped into their senior role beautifully.” 

Keppel reflected on it being her last game at Crenshaw Field and said it was emotional. 

“It’s been a great four years with ups and downs and everything, and I love my class,” Keppel said. “I love my team. And it’s gonna be really sad to not have this moving forward, but it’s been awesome.”

UR will play its last game of the regular season away against Virginia Commonwealth University at Cary Street Field on Oct. 28. 

“It’s a crosstown rivalry,” Montgomery said. “They’re quite good, but I think we can take it to ‘em.”