University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Temple
Women's Lacrosse Advances To A-10 Championship Game With 13-6 Win Over Temple
05/04/2007 | Women's Lacrosse
May 4, 2007
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The top-seeded Richmond women's lacrosse team topped fourth-seeded Temple 13-6 in the Atlantic 10 semifinals on Friday afternoon at Geasy Field in Philadelphia, Pa. to advance to the A-10 title game on Sunday. Sophomores Allison Furstenburg and Mandy Friend each recorded a hat trick
While Friend and Furstenburg each notched three goals, senior Morghan Vahue and juniors Claire Cunniff and Zara Nematollahi followed with two goals each and senior Ashley Friend tallied one goal as the Spiders captured their eighth win in the last nine contests, moving one step closer to their third-straight A-10 Championship and automatic berth in the NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship.
"I was really pleased with their performance today," said Richmond head coach Sue Murphy. "We made some adjustments in the second half; when they (the Owls) made a run, we really stood our ground and made some great stops. Our shooting percentage was much better in the second half. I'm glad our kids listened and am impressed with the changes the players made and the poise and leadership they showed."
The Spiders (13-5, 6-1 A-10) opened the contest netting three consecutive goals in less than a one and a half minute span. Richmond's Mandy Friend on her first of three tallies of the afternoon. Friend then won the following draw for a Spider possession and Vahue notched her second goal off a helper from Jenna Hubbard.
Furstenburg added a pair of goal to Richmond's run to give the Spiders a 5-0 advantage with 12:26 remaining. The first team selection scored her first on a free position shot and the second after an impressive move coming from the left side of the goal.
Temple poured in the next three goals, including two in the first half and one in the opening five minutes of the second half to close the game to a two goal (5-3) differential. Nicole Canginglia, Whitney Richards and Casey Cech all netted goals in the Owls' 3-0 run.
The Spiders answered with two straight goals from Cunniff and Furstenburg to move out to a four-goal lead, but the Owls answered with three of the next four goals over a four-minute span to cut the Spider lead to two (8-6). Richmond, fighting for revenge on Temple and their one goal victory over them earlier this season, gutted out a 5-0 run over the final 9:19 to more than double the Owls' score (13-6).
Allison Frengs, Richards and Johna Capalda tallied Temple goals in their final run of the season, with a Spider goal from Nematollahi in the mix as she used a burst of speed down the middle to net her first tally of the day.
The Spiders' final run, securing the victory and advancement to the title game, included a pair of goals from Mandy Friend, as well as a goal from Cunniff, Nematollahi and Ashley Friend. With the win, the Spiders' earned their fifth win over the Owls (6-11, 4-3 A-10) in the last six meetings and their third win over Temple in A-10 Championship play.
Spider keeper Jackie Swansburg finished the game with nine big saves between the pipes, while Bridget McMullan recorded 11 saves on the other end. Richmond concluded the contest with a 13-8 advantage in draw controls, as well as an advantage in shots (34-27).
The Spiders will take a day's rest before facing the winner of the contest between second-seeded George Washington (10-6, 6-1 A-10) and third-seeded St. Bonaventure (8-6/5-2 A-10) in the Championship game at 3:00 pm (EST) on Sunday, May 6, which will be nationally televised by CSTV.
This is the first time in league history that the Conference's women's lacrosse championship will be televised. CSTV is available on Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Adelphia and Insight cable systems, among others, and is also available on DirecTV (channel 610) and DISH Network (Channel 152).
Follow the Spiders through the Championships at RichmondSpiders.com, or for complete results, log onto the leagues' website at Atlantic 10.
