The University of Richmond field hockey team is on a three-game winning streak after obliterating Lock Haven University 8-0 on Sept. 19, kickstarting conference play with a bang.
In an amazing offensive push, seven different Spiders scored. The teamwork displayed on the field marked a moment of connection and a potential good omen for coming games.
While things are looking rather sunny for UR, the Bald Eagles are in a deep downward spiral, not winning a single game this season and getting shutout another two before facing the Spiders.
Determined to deliver another punch, the Spiders wasted no time in the first quarter. With the Bald Eagles not generating a single shot in the quarter, it was all UR action from the very start.
It only took five minutes for Richmond to tally three penalty corners, though none ended in a goal. Those opportunities continued to be vital, UR’s fifth corner finally leading to the goal it had been fruitlessly seeking.
Trailing behind, the Bald Eagles only managed three saves, seeing little action on the other side of the field.
Lock Haven successfully warded off the Spiders from their first two goal attempts in the second quarter, but UR was anything but deterred. In the 20th minute of play, senior midfielder Alexa Derr slung the ball in the back of the cage, Richmond up 2-0.
Not even two minutes later, the Spiders scored again, expanding the lead yet again. Gaining an opportunity to respond, Lock Haven made an attempt at a penalty corner. However, that failed and the buzzer went off before the Bald Eagles could find another chance before the break.
With struggles already obvious for Lock Haven, first-year forward Remy Phan’s goal less than a minute into the third quarter certainly did not boost morale. Junior forward Clara Larripa came alive following the goal, taking two back-to-back shots that were both blocked.
Her efforts paid off in the 37th minute of play, earning her fourth goal of the season in an unassisted play. A few minutes later, Larripa assisted first-year forward Olivia Eusanio in her first collegiate goal.
“When I saw Clari coming with the ball I was like ok, I just gotta have my stick down and I think that we have definitely worked on tipping the last few weeks at practice,” Eusanio said in a postgame press conference.
The Spiders continued to tousle Lock Haven around in the fourth quarter, the Bald Eagles trying to hold on the best they could. After swapping failed penalty corners, Derr tallied her second goal of the game, the Spiders holding a 7-0 lead.
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Richmond made one last goal, following up a wide shot by Lock Haven. As the clock hit zero, the Eagles’ shoulders slumped and UR reveled in the victory.
“It was an amazing game,” Larripa said in a postgame press conference. “It was a team game, we were all playing together.”
The Spiders join Saint Joseph's University and Davidson College as Atlantic 10 teams that won the first conference game of the season. With a 4-3 record, Richmond goes to face La Salle University Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.
Contact sports editor Abigail Finney at abigail.finney@richmond.edu
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