University of Richmond Athletics
Women's LAX Opens Versus England National Team
01/20/2009 | Women's Lacrosse
Jan. 20, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
Senior Mandy Friend was tabbed by Inside Lacrosse.com as a player to watch in the upcoming 2009 season. Friend is a returning three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection.
Friend, a native of Canandaigua, N.Y., has built a decorated resume at Richmond. Last season she started every game for Spiders, while netting 53 goals and dishing 36 assists and earning a season-best 89 points. Friend was selected to the Team Canada roster earlier this fall. Friend was also selected to the IWLCA All-South Regional Second Team, and was named the Atlantic-10 Player of the Week twice. Friend has led the Atlantic 10 in scoring the past three seasons.
The Spiders look to return to tournament dominance, after capturing consecutive titles from 2005-07. Richmond fell to Massachusetts, 10-9 in overtime of the semifinal round of the tournament championship last year. The Spiders were selected to capture the 2009 Atlantic 10 Lacrosse Championship.
"Mandy has always been a vocal and passionate leader while always respecting the growth of those around her," said Murphy. "Our need for her to handle the draw control on or around the circle, getting on defense to help direct and lead our unit and create fast break opportunities with her speed and vision while still shelling out total points, ground balls and caused turnovers, has proven her to be an overall outstanding national player."
Richmond opens its 2009 season with a scrimmage versus the England National Team Feb. 9th. The game is set for 3 p.m. at First Market Stadium.
