Spiders' Season Ends In A-10 Championship Game

Saturday, November 7

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 PM

University of Richmond

(11-8)

Massachusetts

(12-9)

Massachusetts

RICHMOND

11/07/2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

MERION STATION, Pa. – The Richmond Spiders 2015 campaign ended in a 3-0 defeat to Massachusetts in the Atlantic 10 Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Saint Joseph's.

Winners of the Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship, the Spiders finished the year at 12-9 overall after going 7-1 in conference play. Saturday's matchup was the fourth straight A-10 final between Massachusetts and the 20th-consecutive season that one of the two programs won the A-10 tournament.

On Saturday, the Minutewomen built a 2-0 halftime lead off penalty corner goals from Izzie Delario and Melanie Kreusch. Kreusch added a third goal off a corner in the second half to give UMass an insurmountable lead.

Richmond and UMass were even in total shots (12) and the Minutewomen only had one more penalty corner than Richmond.

UMass' Kreusch was named Tournament MVP after she scored five goals in two games. Richmond seniors Amy Cooke and Taylor Deitrick were tabbed to the All-Tournament Team.

“We had so many variables this year with having the smallest team that we've ever had,” head coach Gina Lucido said. “We lost a lot from last year, but these five seniors put us in a place to be regular season champions. Our word for this year was 'Elevate,' and it was grounded in us growing way beyond our physical training. We took a lot of steps forward in our professionalism and our ability to play many different ways. I'm so proud of this team's season.”

The Spiders played an incredibly strong schedule all season as all but one of UR's losses came against teams that were ranked at some point during the year.

At the end of the year, Richmond's defense boasted the lowest goals-allowed average in conference play as seniors Cooke and Allison Haas patrolled the backend in front of a young goalie tandem of Emily Braunewell and Amanda Hoyt. Both goalkeepers saw action in Saturday's final.

The Spiders saw contributions up and down the lineup as all but one position player tallied at least a goal or assist this season.

Seniors Cooke, Haas, Deitrick, Avery Safford and Kimberly Sportack end their careers with a cumulative record of 54-31 including a 26-4 mark in conference play. The Spiders won two regular season titles and one A-10 tournament title during their tenure.