Field Hockey Opens A-10 Play With Road Win

Friday, September 18

Lock Haven, Pa.

3:00 PM

University of Richmond

(3-4, 1-0A10)

Lock Haven

(6-1, 0-1A10)

RICHMOND

Lock Haven

09/18/2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Richmond Spiders opened conference play with a 1-0 road win at Lock Haven on Friday afternoon.

The Spiders (3-4, 1-0) garnered their first road win of the season while snapping Lock Haven's (6-1, 0-1) perfect start to the season. The Bald Eagles were off to their best start of any season since 2004.

Richmond has now won every conference opener dating back to 2010, and Friday's win was big for conference standings with the Bald Eagles picked third in the A-10 preseason poll.

“Today was a great defensive stand for the Spiders,” head coach Gina Lucido said. “Emily Braunewell earned her first shut-out with the team on a day of bravery and complete poise under pressure. Captain Amy Cooke secured the winning goal by putting the team ahead early in the first half.”

UR controlled the ball and the midfield throughout the first half, holding Lock Haven without a shot or a penalty corner.

At the 17:23 mark, Avery Safford lined up for a Spider penalty corner with the opportunity to take the lead. After the reception from Allison Haas, Amy Cooke launched a ball to the back of the cage in what turned out to be the contest's game-winning goal.

For Cooke, it was her team-leading sixth point of the year and second goal of the year.

In the second half, Richmond's defense repelled every Bald Eagle attack as the home team made every effort to tie the score. Richmond's Emily Braunewell made three second-half saves in goal on four LHU shots, including a big one in the final minute to preserve the win.

“The team continues to lay pieces of the strong foundation needed to be at the top of the A-10,” Lucido said. “The hard work in conference play is just the beginning. We are eager for Sunday's challenge.”

The Spiders' weekend will not get any easier as UR travels to UMass on Sunday in a matchup of the top two teams in the Atlantic 10. Richmond beat the Minutewomen in overtime last year to win the conference tournament championship.