University of Richmond Athletics
Five-Time Defending Champion Spiders Open Atlantic 10 Play Against Preseason Favorite Owls
10/04/2007 | Field Hockey
Oct. 4, 2007
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The five-time defending Atlantic 10 Champion Richmond field hockey team opens up its title defense on Friday afternoon when the Spiders begin conference play at Temple at 3 p.m.
The youthful Spiders have struggled through non-conference play with a 1-9 record, but five of those losses have come to teams currently ranked in the NFHCA Top-20 Poll.
Richmond has won its last 42 games against Atlantic 10 opponents over the last five years, but the Owls came close to breaking that streak twice last year. Richmond needed a pair of last-minute goals to force overtime and went on to edge Temple 2-1 twice in OT, including a semifinal match in the conference tournament.
The Spiders have won all 12 meetings between the two teams, but the Owls were picked first in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Temple is ranked first in the A-10 in shots (181), points (76), assists (24), assists per game (1.85) and penalty corners (103).
Temple's four losses this season are all to nationally ranked teams. Senior Alli Lokey leads the Atlantic 10 in shots (73), shots per game (5.62), points per game (1.69), and is tied in goals (8), assists (6) and game winners (3). Fellow senior Leanne Vogelson is tied with Lokey in assists. Junior goalie Erin Hanshue is presently ranked 12th in the nation in save percentage (.804).
Richmond sophomore Sarah Blythe-Wood leads the team with four goals and eight points. Junior Alex Malatesta and sophomore Megan Thompson each have three goals apiece.
The Spiders remain in Philadelphia to play at Saint Joseph's on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Hawks are also receiving votes in the NFHCA Top-20 Poll.
Leading the Spiders' in goals (4) and points (8) is sophomore Sarah Blythe-Wood. Sophomore Alex Malatesta are not far behind in goals with three. Senior Tara Kelly leads the team in assists with three.
