Spiders named A-10 Champions for second time since 2023

The ticket is punched, the Spiders are going to the NCAA Tournament. 

The University of Richmond men’s lacrosse team followed up a perfect regular season conference record with the Atlantic 10 Championship title, beating High Point University 16-10 on May 3 at Saint Joseph’s University. 

Failing to defend its 2023 title, Richmond fell to No. 17 Saint Joseph’s in the 2024 A-10 finals. This year, the Spiders had an axe to grind. As the bracket unfolded, High Point slid into the slot next to Richmond. The Panthers have struggled against the Spiders in recent years, losing seven games in a row. 

A consistent effort led Richmond ahead of High Point. The Spiders slowly widened the score gap over the entirety of the contest. 

The Panthers pushed back-to-back goals within a minute to open play. Richmond struggled in face-offs as HPU won the third straight. A scoring drought plagued the field as both teams slung shot after shot, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Richmond couldn’t keep a hold of the ball, picking up eight turnovers in the quarter. The Spiders finally found an opening, tallying three goals in a minute. The Panthers only managed to pick up a turnover while Richmond dominated the field for the rest of the period.

Scoring was higher for the remainder of the game as graduate goalkeeper Zach Vigue picked up zero saves after the first quarter. Richmond desperately looked for a goal in the first minute of the second quarter, but High Point found the back of the net first. 

The Spiders answered with three goals of their own, doubling HPU’s score 6-3. Swapping turnovers, scoring paused until the Panthers scored two goals with two minutes on the clock. Determined to hold a lead at the half, UR managed one last goal before the buzzer sounded. 

Both teams were locked in back-and-forth play for the first half of the third quarter. Richmond finally broke the lull with four minutes on the clock, going on a 3-0 run. The Spiders had an even better advantage when they had a man-up opportunity following a foul on HPU for unnecessary roughness. However, they couldn’t capitalize before time ran out. 

A four point deficit would be difficult for High Point to overcome in 15 minutes. It only looked worse for the Panthers as the Spiders tallied two goals. HPU answered with a goal, but Richmond paid no mind as it scored three more in turn. In a final attempt, High Point achieved back-to-back goals, but it was too late.  

This contest marks the Spiders’ 11th conference finals appearance in a row, the nation's longest streak. 

Richmond’s defense, second in the U.S., led the way as three players picked up three caused turnovers. On the other side of the field, junior midfielder Joe Sheridan and first-year midfielder Daniel Picart both tallied three goals. Following the game, six Spiders were named to the All-Tournament team in Mitchell Dunham, Aidan O'Neil, Picart, Hunter Smith and Tommy Stull. Sheridan was named the conference's Most Outstanding Performer.

The Spiders will play the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill at noon on Saturday, May 10 in Chapel Hill, N.C. 

Contact sports editor Abigail Finney at abigail.finney@richmond.edu