University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
at No. 20 Virginia
Field Hockey Blanks No. 20 Virginia, 1-0
10/26/2005 | Field Hockey
Oct. 26, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Richmond's Field Hockey team extended two win streaks Wednesday with a shutout win at No. 20 Virginia, 1-0. The Spiders have now won seven-straight in 2005, and 11 of their last 14. Richmond also pushed its win streak over Virginia to four games in the all-time series. With the win Richmond moved to 12-5 on the season, while the `Hoos dropped to 8-9 overall in 2005.
Both teams played an evenly matched contest throughout, and remained knotted at 0-0 at halftime. The Spiders outshot UVA, 5-3 in the first half and garnered more penalty corners, 4-3, in the first 35 minutes. Both keepers stepped up to make saves as Virginia's Katherine Blair turned away three and senior Michelle Swartz came up with one save for the Spiders in the first.
It was much of the same in the second half with Richmond holding a 4-2 advantage in the shots, but the Cavaliers had the upper hand in corners, 3-2. Richmond, however, made one of their corner opportunities count. With 6:20 left in the game, the Spiders were awarded a penalty corner. After an initial shot off a short attempt was turned away, senior Lesley Russell was there to put the deflection in the back of the cage for the Spiders' only goal. The eventual game-winner marked Russell's third goal of the season and the first game-winner of her four-year career.
Swartz went on to save a total of three on goal to pick up her fifth shutout of the season and 33rd of her career. Senior Whitney Wells led the team with three shots, and was followed by sophomore Shannon Taylor with two. Freshman Alex Malatesta registered two shots, while senior Allie Howard, along with Russell, each made one attempt.
Richmond, which clinched its fourth-straight Atlantic 10 regular season championship last weekend, wraps up its regular season this weekend when in travels to St. Louis, Mo., to face the Saint Louis Billikens. Game time in the Show-Me state is set for 2 p.m. EST.
