University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Host Longwood In Home Opener Friday
08/29/2013 | Women's Soccer
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -- The Richmond women's soccer team hosts Longwood Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Robins Stadium.
Richmond Lately
The Spiders opened the 2013 season with a 1-1 weekend at the James Madison Tournament. Richmond fell to JMU, 4-1, in each teams' season opener last Friday with Becca Wann providing the score for Richmond. Two days later, Richmond responded with a convincing 3-1 decision over ODU. Three seniors scored in the victory, with Wann, Kristen Lybert and Erin Layne all notching goals. Lybert also added an assist. Wann and freshman Hunter Rooney were named to the All-Tournament team.
Spiders Tabbed Fourth In A-10
Richmond was selected to finish fourth in the A-10 in voting conducted by the league's head coaches last week. Senior captain Becca Wann was tabbed to the preseason All-Conference first team as was sophomore back Ashley Riefner. Freshman Kaleigh Kurtz garnered preseason All-Rookie honors. Richmond returns seven starters from last year's squad, including All-American forward Wann. Wann is a two-time A-10 Player of the Year and has been All-Conference selection every year as a Spider. Fellow captain Crystal Koczot returns to anchor the Spider defense. The Wheaton, Md. native appeared in every game last season and had an assist against Old Dominion. Adding experience to the Spider defense will be Riefner, who started every game of her freshman campaign. The addition of Kurtz to the Spider defense will also boost the Spider backline. Kurtz, a Greer, S.C. native, is a three-time All-State Player of the Year and won Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.
Longwood Lately
The Lancers come into Friday's game with a 0-1-1 mark, having recently tied Howard at home Tuesday night in double overtime. Longwood outshot Howard, 18-4, led by Kelsey Pardue's seven attempts. The Lancers dropped their season opener, 3-2, to N.C. State over the weekend. Freshman Amanda Spencer provided the scores for Longwood. The Lancers were chosen to finish fourth in the Big South Conference in a poll released last week. Longwood returns six starters and 20 letterwinners from its 13-6-2 squad last season. The Lancers finished second in the Big South and advanced to the quarterfinals of the conference championship.
Up Next
Richmond travels to No. 5 Virginia for a 5 p.m. game Sunday.
