University of Richmond
Virginia
Field Hockey Edged By No. 8 Virginia
08/30/2007 | Field Hockey
Aug. 30, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Richmond field hockey team used a strong come back bid to nearly take down No. 8 ranked Virginia, before falling 4-3 Thursday night at the University Hall Turf Field.
Sophomore Sarah Blythe-Wood scored two goals for her second multi-goal game in three contests this season. Sophomore Annie Edwards scored in the closing minutes to pull Richmond within one, but the Cavaliers held on for the victory. Richmond had won four of the previous five meetings between the two schools.
The Spiders fell behind 2-0 in the first nine minutes of the game, but came back strong against one of the top teams in the nation.
"It's disappointing that we lost 4-3," Richmond head coach Gina Lucido said. "I thought that we could have come out of the gates with a little more aggression, playing our style, and maybe the game could have gone a different way. I still remain absolutely positive in the potential that this 2007 Spider team has. To come back like that shows a lot of character."
The Spiders got off to a slow start, giving up two goals in less than a minute to trail 2-0 just 8:21 into the game, but Richmond settled down and a goal by Blythe-Wood cut the lead in half in the 14th minute.
The Cavaliers (1-1) scored to take a 3-1 lead just 2:48 into the second half, but Blythe-Wood pulled the Spiders back within one with her second goal of the game and her fourth of the season with 20:32 left. The goal came on a penalty corner off assists from sophomore Jess Weidner and senior captain Tara Kelly.
Virginia took a two-goal lead once again, scoring just five minutes later to put the Cavs up 4-2 with 54:04 remaining.
Richmond sophomore Annie Edwards created her own goal to pull the Spiders within one with 2:06 on the clock. Edwards had another chance at scoring in the final two minutes, but Virginia came away with the narrow victory.
"Annie Edwards came in, scored one goal and almost had a second goal, she played tremendous," Lucido said.
Lucido was pleased once again with the play of senior captain Erin Arthur.
"Erin Arthur, as a captain and leader, has been the solid rock foundation of this Spider program," Lucido said. "She's leading by example with both physical and vocal play."
Junior goalkeeper Becca Weaver made a career-high eight saves for the Spiders.
"Becca Weaver had an awesome performance," Lucido said. "She's just so strong and confident. She really helped keep the momentum of us coming back."
The Spiders return home to host Delaware on Saturday at noon at Crenshaw Field.
"At the end of the day, it's frustrating, but we're just as excited for Saturday's game," Lucido said. "I'm very positive in the belief that this team can accomplish anything it wants to. We just have to take it day-by-day and game-by-game."
