University of Richmond Athletics
Soccer Looks To Finish Strong In Final Weekend
10/29/2015 | Women's Soccer
Richmond women's soccer enters its final weekend of the regular season with an outside chance to still qualify for next week's Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, starting with a road game at St. Bonaventure Thursday night before a Sunday home finale versus VCU. Thursday's contest, at the Marra Athletics Complex, begins at 7 p.m. Sunday's regular-season finale, will begin at 1 p.m. at Robins Stadium. Admission for Richmond home games is free.
Richmond enters the weekend 4-11-1 overall, 2-5-1 in Atlantic 10 Conference games this season. The Spiders started out with nine goals in the first five league games, but have not scored since a goal in the home loss to Saint Joseph's on October 15. Three goals from senior tri-captain Ashley Riefner (Mechanicsville, Virginia / Atlee HS) and three from sophomore Lexi Prillaman (Magnolia, Delaware) are tied for the team lead. The Spiders have mostly split time between sophomore Katie Brennan (Fairfield, Connecticut) and freshman Jessica Stanfill (Fitzgerald, Georgia) during the conference schedule. Both goalkeepers have two wins this season. Brennan has posted the better goals-against average, at 1.34 so far in 11 games played.
The Spiders and Bonnies have played 13 times in the past 14 seasons, skipping a meeting only in 2012. The Spiders have won four in a row in the all-time series, with a 9-4 overall advantage to SBU.
The Bonnies are 5-10-2 overall, 2-6 in A-10 games. The Bonnies posted a home win over Rhode Island and a road win at Saint Louis in conference. Despite their record, the Bonnies have 23 goals on the season, including 10 goals from Abby Maiello, third most in the league this season, and seven from Lauren Hill. The Bonnies have a pair of goalkeepers, with Beth Moore playing in 12 games. She is 3-6-2 overall this season, with 24 goals allowed and a 1.99 goals-against average. Her 36 saves in league are third most for an A-10 goalie in league games only this season.
Sunday's game will be the 20th in the all-time series with the Rams, missing only 2011 as a year for a game between the two. The series is a level 8-8-3 all-time, including a win and a loss for each team in the past two seasons, also including a scoreless tie last year in October.
VCU comes into the weekend at 8-7-2 overall, 6-1-1 and in second place in the A-10. The Rams have an impressive 4-2-1 road record this season. Three Rams have seven or more goals, led by eight from Julia Suarez. Her five goals and four assists in A-10 games give her 14 points, tied for third-most in the league this year. Keeper Emily Kruze has allowed 24 goals and has a1.37 goals-against average. Her 85 saves are second most in the league so far this season.
The Spiders will honor their six seniors before the game on Sunday. Riefner and teammates Dana Bernetich (Mount Laurel, New Jersey), Hannah Holub (Cary, N.C.), Emily Kelly (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands), Nichola Mottrom (Rancho Palos Verde, California) and Darian Podmajersky (Yorba Linda, California) will participate in a pre-game ceremony.
Live video and stats are available for the home game through RichmondSpiders.com, with live stats available for Thursday's game at St. Bonaventure's Web site.
