University of Richmond
Maryland
Field Hockey Can't Hold Momentum; Falls To No. 2 Maryland In NCAA Tournament
11/11/2006 | Field Hockey
Nov. 11, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 17 ranked Richmond field hockey team controlled the first half of play against No. 2 ranked Maryland, but the Terrapins scored a goal with 1:43 remaining in the period and never looked back in a 4-0 victory Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Richmond was out-shooting the defending national champion Terps 4-2 for most of the first half and the shot count was even at 4-4 when Ameliet Rischen scored an unassisted goal in the 34th minute of the first half.
That goal shifted the game's momentum and in the second half Maryland would score two goals in the first nine minutes to open up a 3-0 lead and then add another tally later in the half.
"We played really well in the first 35 minutes," Richmond head coach Ange Bradley said. "In the second half Maryland picked up their ball speed and used their experience."
The loss snapped a 12-game winning streak for Richmond, which finishes the season 17-5 overall. Of Richmond's five losses, four came against NCAA Tournament teams. This was the Spiders fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance after winning their fifth-consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference championship.
 Jodi Murphy was a part of four Atlantic 10 Championships for the Spiders.  |
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The Spiders lost seven starters off last year's Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA team, but with 12 freshmen on the roster, Richmond won another conference title and returned to the NCAA Tourney.
"We lost seven starters but we achieved getting to the same place," Bradley said. "I consider that a success, although we didn't advance any further."
Seniors Jodi Murphy and Heather Wrublesky, who were part of four Atlantic 10 Championships and four NCAA berths, played in their final game for the Spiders on Saturday.
"I'm extremely proud of our two captains," Bradley said. "We were a very young team, but they pulled them together."
