University of Richmond
Massachusetts (Atlantic 10 Finals)
Late Surge By Spiders Not Enough, Fall To UMass In A-10 Finals
05/01/2011 | Women's Lacrosse
May 1, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -
Richmond scored the game's last six goals of the game, but top-seeded Massachusetts held on for the 16-12 victory in the 2011 Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship final Sunday afternoon at Geasey Field.
Gabi Wiegand, Danielle Schaevitz and Taylor Blazer all were recognized on the All Tournament team.
UMass scored the two goals in the game's first three minutes, but Richmond got on the board after a Schaevitz laser thanks to a Flowers pass. The Minutewomen countered though with two unassisted tallies to push the lead to 4-1.
Richmond responded with a Wiegand score, from a Julianne Nicola assist and then slashed the lead to 4-3 after Wiegand struck again. The Spiders' score seemed to ignite the Minutewomen, as they rattled off the next six goals to push the lead to 10-3 with seven minutes remaining in the first frame. Tara Coyle scored off another Flowers assist to put the score at 10-4 at the break.
The Spiders scored back-to-back goals to kick off the last half to make the deficit 10-6, but UMass went on another six consecutive goal tear to pull away at 16-6 with 15:18 remaining.
The Spiders would not go quietly as they pieced together a six goal scoring spree of their own, jumpstarted by the two-time Midfielder of the Year Mary Flowers' unassisted up-and-under goal with 12:38 left.
Richmond's unanswered six goal spree made the score 16-12 and included a Caitlin Fifield tally with nine seconds left, but the Spider rally would fall short.
Victoria Roebuck had a game-high 13 saves, while Richmond had a game-high 25 ground balls.
Wiegand and Schaevitz added three goals apiece, while Flowers, Fifield, Anne Ryan, Taylor Blazer, Coyle and Hayley Ross each added one.
Flowers had three assists as did Julianne Nicola.
Flowers ended her stellar junior campaign leading the nation and league in ground balls while leading the Spiders in assists, points and draw controls. Flowers was named the Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year for the second straight season, and tied a school record for goals with eight in a win over American.
