University of Richmond Athletics
Field Hockey Set To Host No. 18 William & Mary
09/16/2005 | Field Hockey
Sept. 16, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Spider field hockey squad welcomes No. 18 William & Mary to Crenshaw Field, Sunday, Sept. 18 for a 1 p.m. contest. The Spiders, 4-2 on the season, were just one spot out of the STX/NFHCA Top-20 rankings and received 114 total votes. The Tribe, off to a 3-2 start in 2005, was ranked 18th in the poll released earlier this week.
The Spiders welcome the Tribe on the heels of two consecutive shutouts of VCU, 1-0, Sept. 9 and Towson, 2-0, Sept. 11. Richmond has won three-straight and four of its last five. The Tribe has also won two-straight including a 7-2 drubbing of Kent State and an overtime win at Syracuse, 3-2. William & Mary opened the season with a 4-1 win over Ball State then dropped two-straight to perennial powers Penn State and North Carolina.
The Spiders trail in the all-time series with William & Mary, 4-20-1. Richmond, however, has won the last two dating back to 2003. That win, 4-1 in Richmond, Sept. 14, snapped a nine-game losing streak in the series and marked the first time the Spiders scored on the Tribe since 1997.
Senior Michelle Swartz is on a roll shutting out two consecutive opponents. The Severna Park, Md., native is also working on a shutout streak of just over 177 minutes which dates back to the second half against Delaware, Sept. 4. The shutouts over VCU and Towson were the first of the season for Swartz, who was named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week, and 29th and 30th of her career.
Sophomore Shannon Taylor boasts a team-leading four goals, including three game-winners. Taylor was responsible for both Richmond goals against the Tigers last weekend. Freshman Erica Suitch was named Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week Monday, following her play in last weekend's contests. Suitch scored the Spiders' game-winner against the Rams, then helped on the game-winner against Towson two days later.
