University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
ENGLAND NATIONAL TEAM
No. 13 Women's Lacrosse Takes Down England National Team, 11-9, In Exhibition
02/12/2007 | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 12, 2007
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Sophomore transfer Allison Furstenburg led the No. 13 Richmond women's lacrosse team to an 11-9 victory over the England National Team on Monday afternoon at First Market Stadium as she scored four goals and added one assist.
Sophomore All-American Mandy Friend followed with a hat trick and two assists, while sister Ashley Friend recorded two goals and one assist and senior Jenna Hubbard and junior Claire Cunniff contributed one goal apiece in the preseason win.
"I'm grateful that we had an opportunity to play an exhibition before Friday," stated Richmond head coach Sue Murphy. "Although there are many areas of our game to improve on, I was impressed in the second half with the adjustments made on draw controls (7-2 in the second half) and on our attacking end. England was a very quick, fit and solid team, and although we didn't play our very best, we did things well enough to learn how to win in the end."
England's Lizzie Crouch dropped in the first goal in the first minute of play, but Richmond's Furstenburg responded with her first of four goals at the 22:50 mark to knot the game, 1-1. Lizzie Leppard followed with an England goal just over a minute later to give England its second lead of the game; however, Richmond's Cunniff was able to tie the game (2-2) off an assist from Furstenburg.
Alice Kay put in England's third goal before Mandy Friend and Furstenburg each notched unassisted goals to give Richmond its first lead (4-3) of the game with 7:34 remaining in the first half. England's Katy Bennett was able to net one more goal before halftime to knot the game (4-4).
Richmond opened the second half by converting three-straight free position attempts to take a three goal (7-4) lead in the first 3:15 of play. Mandy and Ashley Friend, as well as Hubbard, each contributed to the 3-0 run.
Laura Merrifield, who scored England's next four goals, then responded with a goal to bring the game to a 7-5 Spider advantage. Another Mandy Friend goal, off an assist from sister Ashley, kept England within a three-goal difference; however, Merrifield put in two-straight to close the game to a one goal differential (8-7) with 19:07 on the clock.
Richmond's Furstenburg answered with her third goal of the afternoon; however, England's Merrifield and Bennett put in one goal apiece to bring the game to its final stalemate (9-9) with 7:01 left on the clock. Mandy Friend assisted sister Ashley and Furstenburg on their second and fourth goals of the game, respectively, to secure the two-goal win over the England National Team.
Senior Jackie Swansburg finished with three saves in goal for the Spiders in 53:19 of play.
The Spiders will officially kick-off their season at Longwood on Friday, February 16 at 4:00 p.m. before facing three-straight ACC opponents, Virginia Tech, Duke and Virginia.
