University of Richmond
Duquesne (A-10 Championships)
Women's Lacrosse wins Atlantic 10 Championship
05/07/2005 | Women's Lacrosse
May 7, 2005
RICHMOND, Va. - Junior Caroline McGuire, the Atlantic 10 Women's Lacrosse Championship Most Outstanding Player, scored three goals, including the game-winner, to lead the University of Richmond to its first-ever Conference title this evening at UR Stadium. The fourth-seeded Spiders defeated second-seeded Duquesne 10-8 and earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, the program's first-ever appearance.
Senior Kristen Habicht also recorded a hat trick for the Spiders and three other Richmond players scored in the win.
The Dukes (13-4) were led by senior Ginger Flocco's four goals and four assists, tallying a game-high eight points. Flocco broke the league's mark for points in a Championship after totaling 13 in the Dukes' two games.
Richmond (9-7) came out strong, taking a 3-0 lead just seven minutes into the contest with goals coming from three different players. The Dukes were held scoreless until midway through the first period when Ashley Wood found Flocco to put Duquesne on the scoreboard.
Duquesne cut the Spiders' lead to one but Richmond rattled off two consecutive scores in a 20-second span to rebuild a three-goal advantage. Each team scored once more in the first stanza and the Spiders held a 6-3 lead at the break.
Flocco scored the first goal of the second period three minutes into the half but the Dukes were unable to score throughout the following 16 minutes while the Spiders put a trio of shots into the net. With ten minutes left in the game, the Dukes tallied two goals in 27 seconds to get back within two before Richmond scored its final goal with 6:38 on the clock.
The Dukes rallied late in the game, quickly scoring a pair but the Spider defense held tight and preserved the 10-8 win.
"I am so excited because this team showed so much heart to go from a 2-7 start and win their last seven games," Richmond head coach Sue Murphy stated. "It was great to come in here as an underdog and beat four-time defending champion Temple and a consistent top team in Duquesne."
McGuire was joined on the All-Championship Team by teammates Habicht, junior Jackie Swansburg and sophomore Ashley Friend. Duquesne's senior Laura App, senior Ginger Flocco, sophomore Jennifer Lorenze, George Washington's junior Annie Howley, senior Meghan McDonough and Temple's freshman Whitney Richards, junior Patty Glavin and sophomore Casey Cech were also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
The Spiders are the first #4 seed and the third host institution to win the title.
