University of Richmond
#vs. Massachusetts
No. 20 Field Hockey Wins Fourth-Straight Atlantic 10 Crown, 7-1, Over UMass
11/05/2005 | Field Hockey
Nov. 5, 2005
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Sophomore Shannon Taylor scored three goals and freshman Alex Malatesta added two more to lead No. 20 Richmond to a 7-1 victory over Massachusetts, and the Spiders' fourth-straight A-10 Championship, Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, Pa. Richmond advances to play NEC champion Sacred Heart, Tuesday, Nov. 8 in NCAA Tournament Play-In action.
With the 7-1 win today and the 3-1 victory over Saint Joseph's in the semifinal round, the Spiders broke various Atlantic 10 Tournament records including most goals scored in a game (7) and in a championship (10), most assists in a game (8), most points in a game (21) and in a championship (29). Individually, junior Heather Wrublesky's four goals this weekend tied the record for most goals scored in a championship.
The Spiders dominated play from the opening whistle, scoring six goals in the first 22 minutes of the game. Malatesta sent a ball into the circle and Wrublesky, like she had three times the day before, got a slight touch on it and slid the ball past UMass goalie Becky Letourneau just three minutes into the contest to make it 1-0. Taylor made it 2-0 seven minutes later after moving the ball to the right and firing a shot to the back left-hand corner of the cage. Malatesta struck again just 50 seconds later on a corner. Seniors Lesley Russell and Michelle LaForce assisted on the goal. Malatesta made it 4-0 two minutes later after collecting a pass from senior Allie Howard. The Spiders were able to convert their sixth corner of the half into another goal, as Russell and LaForce set up Taylor's second goal. Senior Whitney Wells made it 6-0 with just under 12 minutes remaining after receiving the ball at midfield and taking it the length of the field for a goal. The 6-0 score stood going into the half.
Gina Sanders got UMass on the board with a goal just five and a half minutes into the half after collecting a pass from Kara Murphy. That goal would also account for the Minutewomen's lone shot of the game. Taylor, Russell and La Force added one more goal with 10 minutes remaining to end the game with a 7-1 result.
Letourneau had four saves before being replaced by Heather Ryan who had five saves. Michelle Swartz and Becca Weaver split time in the Richmond cage but neither earned any stops.
Howard was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the third-straight season, while teammates Wells, Wrublesky, Swartz and Malatesta were voted to the All-Championship Team. Rounding out the All-Championship team were Alli Lokey and Melissa Fritze from Temple, Katelyn O'Brien, Lauren Luft and Katie Young from Saint Joseph's and Jaime Bawden from Massachusetts.
The Spiders will now host NEC Champion Sacred Heart, Tuesday, Nov. 8 at Crenshaw Field in an NCAA Tournament Play-In game. The winner will receive an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament's round of 16. Game time will be determined Monday, and will posted at www.RichmondSpiders.com.
