University of Richmond
James Madison
No. 19 Spiders Outlast 13th-Ranked James Madison, 2-1
09/13/2006 | Field Hockey
Sept. 13, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The 19th-ranked Richmond field hockey team used a late goal off rebound to top the 13th-ranked James Madison Dukes, 2-1, Wednesday at Crenshaw Field. The Spiders, 3-2 on the season, run their home unbeaten streak to eight-straight with the win while the Dukes fall to 5-2 in 2006.
Richmond broke the tightly contested game with its first goal in the 30th minute of play. Junior Tara Kelly and senior Heather Wrublesky used a scuffle in front of the cage to push one past JMU's keeper, Merel Broekhuizen. Wrublesky grabbed the loose ball and tapped it to Kelly, who was waiting in front for her first goal of the season.
The Spiders outshot the Dukes in the first half of a very physically played game, 3-2. Richmond also logged three corners to just one for JMU in the first period.
The Dukes got on the board early in the second half when Melissa Stefaniak took control of a misplayed clearing opportunity deep in Richmond's half of the field. The Dukes were able to draw Spiders' keeper, sophomore Becca Weaver, out before colliding with her to leave the goal open. Stefaniak took advantage of the empty net for the game's equalizer.
Richmond answered in the 58th minute when it took control of a ball at midfield. Senior Jodi Murphy and junior Shannon Taylor worked the ball to the middle of the field where Taylor blasted a shot from the top of the circle. A deflection sent the ball to the side where freshman Adrian Pickar was able to take the rebound and push it home for the first goal of her career and the game-winner.
James Madison managed to outshoot Richmond in the second half 4-3, and received more penalty corner opportunities, 3-2. James Madison had one of its second-half penalty corners come in the final 30 seconds of the game, but a failed pushout ended the game with no shot attempt.
The Spiders return to the road this weekend to face No. 17 William & Mary, Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. Be sure to logon to Richmond's official athletics website -- RichmondSpiders.com for all the latest information on Spider field hockey.
