Riefner Scores Twice In 3-2 Soccer Road Win At URI

Sunday, October 11

Kingston, R.I.

1:00 PM

University of Richmond

4-7-1 (2-1-1)

Rhode Island

3-9-1 (0-4-0)

Richmond

Rhode Island

10/11/2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Two goals from senior tri-captain Ashley Riefner (Mechanicsville, Virginia / Atlee HS), including the game winner with less than nine minutes remaining, boosted the Richmond Spiders women's soccer team to a 3-2 road victory at Rhode Island Sunday in Atlantic 10 Conference play. Riefner added an assist on the third goal of the game to factor in all three scores and post a Richmond individual season-high five points for the game.

Richmond improves to 4-7-1 overall and 2-1-1 in league games. Rhode Island falls to 3-9-1, 0-4 in A-10 contests.

It was Richmond's fourth win in the last six meetings with the Rams and the second win in five games at the URI Soccer Complex.

“Ashley was just dominant,” said Spiders head coach Peter Albright. “She defended and won balls for us, took people on and scored the goals. We got good performances from many people and got a good team win.”

The Spiders got on the board quickly. Riefner scored the game's first goal on a free kick on the right side of the box just inside the 17^th minute. A little more than five minutes later, Riefner assisted on a goal from junior Lindsay Egbers (Clifton, Virginia / Centreville HS) when she went far post on the left side of the box for a 2-0 lead.

“Lexi got fouled on the right side of the 18,” said Riefner of her first goal. “I had no angle for a straight shot and I didn't want to kick it with my left, so I used the outside of my right foot. It bent around the right side of the wall and stayed on the near post. It's a shot we work on in our scoring practice on Tuesdays. When we were setting up the second free kick, I just passed it quickly to Lindsay and she found the right side of the goal.”

The Spiders held that lead to the half, outshooting the Rams 12-4 at the half.

“We executed two good free kicks in the first half,” noted Albright. “We played well in the first half, but we came out after halftime and let Rhode Island back in the game with some sloppy defending.”

The second half saw the Rams fight back, scoring a goal just past two minutes into the frame on a cross to get the fifth goal of the season from Ari Stanton.

A header from Ram Taylor Ross in the 58^th minute tied the game at two.

Riefner beat the keeper for the game winner with a point-blank goal after a pass from fellow senior tri-captain Dana Bernetich (Mount Laurel, New Jersey) in the 82^nd minute to secure the victory. It was Bernetich's first point of the year and second career assist and gave Riefner her third goal of the year and 12^th for her career. She took a career-high eight shots in the game.

“Dana played me the ball and I took a touch over the defender's head and I struck it right by the goalie to the far post and it dinked in off the post,” said Riefner on the game winner.

“I've been frustrated the last couple of games, so I had to take a breath and tell myself that I should have fun and let things happen. I had a less stressful mindset going into to today.”

Richmond started freshman goalkeeper Jessica Stanfill, who posted five saves and evened her record to 2-2 this season. URI keeper Katie Nickles took the loss after gathering seven saves. She is 3-9-1 for the season.

“Jess was very strong today and had good presence in there,” said Albright of his freshman keeper. “We're happy to have some depth at that position. It was a long trip (5,400 miles in eight days) but we are thrilled to play at home this Thursday.”

Richmond finished with 19 shots to the Rams' seven. Both teams took a pair of corner kicks.

Following the longest travel stretch this season (games at Massachusetts, Saint Louis and Rhode Island), the Spiders will play four of their final six, including their next two this week, at home. UR hosts Saint Joseph's Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. before a Sunday date with George Washington at 1 p.m. at Robins Stadium. Admission is free.