University of Richmond Athletics
Field Hockey Opens 2015 Season With American And Drexel
08/27/2015 | Field Hockey
RICHMOND (12-10, 6-2 A-10 | 2014) vs. AMERICAN (9-9, 4-2 PL | 2014)
Live Video: RichmondSpiders.com
Live Stats: RichmondSpiders.com
Twitter: @SpiderHockey
RICHMOND vs. DREXEL (10-8, 2-4 CAA | 2014)
Live Video: RichmondSpiders.com
Live Stats: RichmondSpiders.com
Twitter: @SpiderHockey
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond field hockey team finally gets its season underway this weekend when it welcomes American University on Friday afternoon and Drexel University at Noon on Sunday.
The Spiders are the defending Atlantic 10 champions and began their 2014 championship run with a 4-1 victory on the road at nationally ranked American almost exactly a year ago. Richmond returns All-Conference selections Amy Cooke and Allison Haas from a team that went 12-10 overall and 6-2 in the league last year as well as A-10 All-Rookie choices Kasey Gilbride and Megan Miller.
Six seniors departed the squad from a season ago but six new faces have arrived in Richmond in hopes of making back-to-back title runs for the first time during head coach Gina Lucido's tenure. Lucido has brought three A-10 Championships to Richmond and the program has won eight overall including five-straight from 2002-'06.
Cooke, who tallied 11 points (3 goals, 5 assists), is the top returner in terms of points while Emma Johansson and Kelly Quinn are the top returning goal scorers (4). Cooke also led the team with five assists last season.
Lucido will be in search of her 100th victory this weekend as she brings a record of 98-72 into this new year. She has also posted a dominant record of 56-16 against A-10 opponents. Stephanie Bernthal and Chelsea Davies return as assistant coaches and Kendall Combs (VCU '15) joins the staff as a volunteer assistant.
AMERICAN
The Spiders first opponent this season went 9-9 last season and posted a 4-2 record in the Patriot League. The team posted marquee victories over No. 16 Michigan State, 1-0, and No. 19 Cornell, 1-0, early in the season but fell to No. 20 Boston in the Patriot League semifinal.
DREXEL
The Dragons were 10-8 in 2014 but managed just a 2-4 mark in the CAA leaving them out of the postseason. They would however knock off Delaware in overtime in the final game of the year to secure their eighth-straight winning season.
The Richmond field hockey program played its first season in 1920 and is 557-528-72 overall.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can keep track of Spider hockey all season long by following @SpiderHockey on Twitter or by checking in at RichmondSpiders.com for constant news and statistics.
