Inspired Effort Comes Up Short Against No. 12 Delaware

Sunday, September 27

Crenshaw Field (Richmond, Va.)

12:00 PM

University of Richmond

(5-5)

No. 12 Delaware

(9-1)

DELAWARE

RICHMOND

Inspired Effort Comes Up Short Against No. 12 Delaware

09/27/2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – The red-hot Richmond Spiders played an inspired two halves of field hockey, but came up just short of the No. 12 Delaware Blue Hens, 3-2, at Crenshaw Field on Sunday afternoon.

UR (5-5) came in to the match on a three-game winning streak, but Delaware (9-1) answered every Spider push with one of their own. The game marked Richmond's fifth contest against a nationally-ranked opponent through the first 10 games.

“The team took a significant step today. We came out and competed to win,” head coach Gina Lucido said. “Our win for the day was a mentality and a true faith that the outcome was going to be in their hands. But at the same time we were also discontented, and that's going to drive this time to keep working.”

Both of Richmond's goals came directly off of penalty corner set plays. Richmond got on the board first just four minutes into the game with a goal from Kelly Quinn, her team-best fourth of the season. Kasey Gilbride shoveled off a pass to a wide-open Quinn on the left side after Quinn had initiated the penalty corner. Quinn fired past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 Spider lead.

The Blue Hens responded just three minutes later with a goal from Esmee Peet. Greta Nauck then gave UD a 2-1 lead on a penalty stroke with 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Spiders put more pressure on the ranked Blue Hens in the second half, controlling time of possession and forcing the Blue Hens defense to work with their backs to the wall.

With less than 10 minutes remaining and the score still 2-1, Richmond was awarded a penalty corner. After Avery Safford delivered the ball to the top of the circle, Gilbride delivered it right back to her and Safford knocked the ball right through the goalkeeper's legs to tie the game at 2.

But Delaware came right back and delivered a ball into the heart of the Spider defense, deflecting to the left side where an open Jacki Coveleski scored the game-winner, putting Delaware up 3-2.

Richmond pulled its goalkeeper for the final seven minutes, and a late Delaware penalty stroke that hit the net was disallowed, but Richmond was unable to find the equalizer in the final minutes.

Amanda Hoyt made four saves in goal for Richmond, while Gilbride had two defensive saves and Allison Haas had one.

Richmond will play next host VCU on Friday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m.