Larripa nails four goals, leads Richmond in shutout over Ball State

The University of Richmond field hockey team trampled Ball State University 5-0 with junior midfielder Clara Larripa leading the team with four goals on Oct. 5 at Crenshaw Field. 

Richmond was starving for a win, seeking revenge for a heartbreaking defeat on Oct. 3 against Saint Louis University, a team the Spiders have never lost to. This game offered a break for UR after breaking its perfect conference record. 

“I think that compared to what we played on Friday, [...] we were all connected,” Larripa said in a postgame press conference. “We were playing for each other."

New faces marched on the field, with first-year forward Reese Miller and first-year midfielder Caroline Simmons joining the starting lineup.

“They don’t think about being a freshman or not,” Larripa said. “[...]If you get [on] the field, we are going to support you no matter your age.”

The Spiders wasted zero time diving head-first into the game, generating two penalty corners in the first two minutes of the first quarter. Before Ball State was able to generate anything, Larripa found the back of the cage from the top of the circle, assisted by sophomore forward Grace Wiggins. 

The Cardinals managed to pick up two shots by the end of the quarter, but neither put points on the board for Ball State. 

Looking to even the score, the second quarter opened up two back-to-back shots by the Cardinals. Richmond answered a minute later with an unsuccessful penalty corner, Ball State making a quick save. 

It didn’t matter as Larripa wasn’t even close to finishing her reign, coming in hot with an unassisted goal in the 26th minute of play. Just over a minute later, she knocked another one into the cage, Richmond up 3-1. 

The back-to-back goals lit a fire under the Cardinals; Ball State tallying three penalty corners in just one minute. It did little good as the Spider defense didn’t let a single ball pass, holding tight to their lead at the half. 

Ball State pushed hard in the third quarter, generating more penalty corners than Richmond for the first time in the contest and outshooting the Spiders 5-4. After opening with a swap of saved goal attempts, the Cardinals made their run. 

Spider defense was ready at every turn, junior goalkeeper Amanda Cimillo recording four saves in the quarter. Richmond didn’t have another shot until the 44th minute of play, though all efforts were halted. 

With one quarter remaining, the Spiders held a healthy lead, making any chance of a comeback for Ball State low. Richmond absolutely dominated the rest of the game, outshooting the Cardinals 9-1 and gaining more penalty corners 7-0. 

In the 55th minute of play, Larripa broke up a string of unsuccessful penalty corners, making her fourth and final goal of the game. With less than two minutes on the clock, senior forward Lainey Nichols also scored for Richmond, the final nail in the coffin for Ball State. 

Larripa scored four team-leading goals in this game, which were not her first feat at this level. team-leading four goals in this game were not her first feat of this level. On Sept. 1, 2024, she scored four goals in five minutes against the College of William and Mary, only marking her second game playing for Richmond. 

Now, she leads the Spiders this season with 10 goals and five assists. 

Richmond returns to the road on Oct. 10 for a matchup against Davidson College, jumping back into conference play. 

“It’s really important to remember why we’re here and how long we have left with each other,” senior midfielder Jess McMeeking said in a postgame press conference. “Friday is really important and everyone knows that.”

The Wildcats faced a similar weekend to the Spiders, losing a conference matchup against Virginia Commonwealth University before tallying a victory against the College of William and Mary. 

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