University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
American
Spiders Take Down American For Fifth Straight Win
04/09/2008 | Women's Lacrosse
April 9, 2008
Box Score |
Photos 
| Highlights 
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Senior Claire Cunniff put in five goals and added an assist to lead the Spiders in their fifth straight win. Richmond's attack was unstoppable as nine different players scored in the Spiders' 20-12 victory. Junior Mandy Friend scored four of her own goals and two assists, while Allison Furstenburg notched a hat trick and added two assists for five points in the game.
Also scoring for the Spiders was junior Lexie Marrocco who put in two along with Jules Nicola who scored two of her own. Jenna Hubbard, Katy Smullen, Anne Ryan and Casey Kelly each recorded a goal a piece.
The Spiders started the game strong putting in three straight goals to get an early lead on the Eagles. Friend earned her first notch less than three minutes into play off a free-position shot to spark the Spider's attack.
Less than two minutes later, defender Lexie Marrocco who hit the back of the net for her first goal of the day. Marrocco finished with two goals on the day.
With just 5:23 remaining in the first, Mandy Friend found Katy Smullen coming around the crease for the open shot to give the Spiders an eight point advantage, the largest lead of the first half. Richmond led, 12-5 heading into halftime.
"I thought we played a great first half all over the field," head coach Sue Murphy commented. "We got draw controls and re-defended well."
The Spiders' attack got right back to work in the beginning of the second half scoring two goals in one minute. Marrocco started the scoring off just 17 seconds into play off an assist from Allison Furstenburg.
Just 40 seconds later, Clair Cunniff recorded her fourth goal of the game off a free-position shot. Cunniff went a perfect two for two from the eight-meter.
Freshman Casey Kelly earned her first collegiate goal off a free-position shot from the eight-meter to give the Spider's an 11 point lead.
American answered to Kelly's goal going on a three-goal run, cutting Richmond's lead to just eight. Jackie Lane put in two straight goals and Kira Sonberg answered with one of her own.
A goal from freshman Jules Nicola stopped the Eagle's streak. Nicola put in a free-position opportunity to put the Spiders back up by nine.
American's Lauren Aksionoff scored a goal in the Eagle's final attack with just 1:20 left in the game, to bring them back within eight.
Richmond will pick its Atlantic 10 conference schedule back up this Sunday, April 13 as the Spiders host rival, Temple for a 1 p.m. ET game.
"We've had five wins in a row and we continued to improve on parts of our game today," Murphy added. "I'm happy with what we were able to accomplish and it should prepare us more for the game Sunday against our A-10 rival."
