University of Richmond
Temple (A-10 Championships)
Women's Lacrosse Advances to Atlantic 10 Championship Final
05/06/2005 | Women's Lacrosse
May 6, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - In the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at UR Stadium in Richmond, Va., second-seeded Duquesne (13-3) and fourth-seeded Richmond (8-7) recorded wins and advance to tomorrow night's title contest.
The Spiders knocked off four-time defending champion and top-seed Temple (10-7) 11-10, scoring the game-winning goal in the final 30 seconds of the game.
In the first game, Richmond junior Caroline McGuire and sophomore Ashley Friend tied the championship records for single game goals, tallying five a piece. Four Temple players each scored a pair of goals with freshman Whitney Richards contributing four points (three assists and one goal).
The Owls held a slight 6-5 advantage at the break after twice taking a two-goal lead in the first half. The Spiders evened the score shortly into the second stanza but the Owls rattled off three straight scores in a four minute span and built a 9-6 lead with 19:22 remaining in the contest.
McGuire gained possession on the following draw control and went straight to the net, scoring the first of three unanswered goals for Richmond. Temple scored its last goal with eight minutes on the clock and the Spiders tied the game at 10-10 four minutes later. Richmond earned the draw and ran down the clock until McGuire shot the game-winner with 17 seconds to put the Spiders in the championship game for the first time since 2001.
In the second semi-final, the Dukes used three goals late in the game to hold off George Washington (13-5), who advanced to the tournament for the first time, 13-10.
Senior Laura App and Ginger Flocco led the Dukes with four goals each. The Colonials were led by junior Annie Howley's three scores.
Duquesne jumped to a 5-1 lead just ten minutes into the contest but George Washington tallied a pair in a 30-second span to cut the deficit to two. Duquesne tallied four of the contest's next five scores, with two coming off free position attempts and built a 9-4 advantage. The Colonials ended the half with three consecutive goals and were down by just two goals at the half.
In the second half, George Washington tied the game at 10 with a trio of goals, including two from Jenny Heisler, midway through the period but the Dukes scored the game's final three scores to earn the 13-10 win.
Richmond and Duquesne are both looking for their first conference title and will play in the championship game tomorrow evening at 6:00 p.m.
