Spiders Grind Out 1-0 Win Over UMass

Sunday, October 2

Robins Stadium (Richmond, Va.)

1:00 PM

University of Richmond

6-4-1, 1-1-0

Massachusetts

2-6-1, 0-2-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UMass	0	0	0
Richmond	0	1	1

10/02/2016 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – When it comes to conference play, every bit of heart, toughness and grit is needed.

That's exactly what the University of Richmond soccer team showed on Sunday in a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Minutewomen of UMass in Atlantic 10 action at Robins Stadium.

“Getting the win today was big for us,” Head Coach Peter Albright said. “Every conference game is going to be a tough battle and today was no different. We thought we played well enough the other night against Duquesne to get a result, so to get three points today was critical.”

Sophomore Keaira Clark scored the game's lone goal, her first of the season and second of her career. Freshman Carlie Blessing tallied her second clean sheet in the past three games, registering four saves on the afternoon.

“I knew that I needed to provide a spark coming off the bench, that's our job to try and give the team energy,” Clark said. “The goal really was a team effort with getting the turnover and then Ashley laying in a great pass, it's really a team effort that leads us to wins.”

Richmond dominated possession for the majority of the first half, creating several chances for the Spiders.

Just four minutes in, Lexi Prillaman got loose and sent a cross into the box that was out of reach for a leaping Lindsay Egbers. Less than a minute later, Prillaman had a free kick from 22 yards out that sailed wide.

The Spiders' best chance came in the 28^th minute when Prillaman dribbled her way down the left end line, attacking the net, but the UMass keeper was able to knock the shot high to keep the game scoreless at the break.

With UMass trying to claw back into the contest, Richmond continued on the attack, with Egbers once again nearly getting the Spiders on the board, but the cross from Olivia Aha in the 56^th minute was just high.

Clark's heroics came in the the 75^th minute when Meaghan Carrigan sent a short pass to Ashley Gross, who sent a beautiful cross from the left side into a sprinting Clark in the middle of the field, who blasted the game-winner into the bottom right corner of the net.

UMass tried to fight their way back, but a great defensive effort held the Minutewomen scoreless and secured the Spiders' victory.

Richmond returns to action on Thursday night when they host the Billikens of Saint Louis in a key Atlantic 10 matchup. Game time at Robins Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.