University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Dayton
Women's Soccer Advances to A-10 Championship Game
11/08/2002 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 8, 2002
DAYTON, Ohio- The University of Richmond advanced to the 2002 Atlantic 10 Championship finals with a 1-0 victory over the University of Dayton Friday night at Baujan Field on the campus of the University of Dayton. The Spiders record now stands at 12-5-2 while the Flyers conclude their season at 17-3-0.
The two teams battled it out for the first 79 minutes with neither allowing a goal. In the 80th minute, junior Jessica Marino (Poland, Ohio) delivered a pass from the right flank to a streaking Whitney Sikes. The sophomore from Gastonia, N.C. beat her defender at the top of the box, firing a bullet into the far corner for the game-winner. The goal was Sikes' team-leading ninth of the season.
The Flyers, the defending A-10 champions, had won the three previous meetings over the Spiders. That included a 2-1 win in last season's conference championship match in Kingston, RI. The fourth time would prove to be the charm for UR as they upended the perennial A-10 power Flyers on their home turf.
UD's best scoring chance came in the 60th minute when the Flyers Shannon Kuhl had a slow-rolling shot towards an empty net cleared off the line by UR defender Meghan Ogilvie. The defense stood strong in front of Richmond goalkeeper Megan Cox all night. Of UD's 16 shots on the night, only five were on goals and Cox made four saves. Weisenfeld made three saves for the Flyers and faced 13 UR shots.
Other than the score, the second half was just as even and just as entertaining for the packed house of 1,119. Both teams went back and fourth as defensive stops at one end led to quick transitions to the offensive third on the other. UD midfielder Beth McHugh almost capitalized on of those quick transitions in the 46th minute, but Cox came off her line to make a great save on McHugh's shot.
"It was a terrific college soccer match," said Richmond head coach Peter Albright. "I have a lot of respect for the Dayton team. Both sides very well and we were lucky to get the winner and I am very proud of my team."
Richmond now faces the top-seeded Rhode Island Rams in the championship game on Sunday at Baujan Field. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
| Box Score | 1 | 2 | F |
| #3 Richmond | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| #2 Dayton | 0 | 0 | 0 |
UR- Sikes (Marino), 79:11
