Spiders Battle Past Crosstown Rival VCU, 2-1

Friday, October 21

Richmond, Va.

5:00 PM

University of Richmond

(7-8 (5-2))

VCU

(5-10 (1-6))

Richmond

VCU

10/21/2016 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

RICHMOND, Va. – With the Atlantic 10 Tournament exactly two weeks away, the University of Richmond field hockey team is getting hot just at the right time.

On Friday, the Spiders took the field at Cary Street Field (the exact location of the A-10 Tournament) and came away with their third straight conference win, a hard-fought 2-1 defeat of crosstown rival VCU.

With a win in Richmond's win in its final Atlantic 10 game next Sunday (Oct. 30) against Saint Louis, the Spiders would lock up the second seed.

Junior Kasey Gilbride couldn't have picked a better time for her first two goals of the year, scoring both of Richmond's goal in the game. Classmate Amanda Hoyt was outstanding in goal once again, coming up with fives saves in the contest.

It was a rivalry game from the start with physical and aggressive play dominating the first half. Neither team could get many scoring opportunities with only nine shots and seven corners in the stanza.

The physicality continued in the second half, but the offense ramped up with VCU striking first with a deflection off a corner to grab a 1-0 lead in the 45^th minute.

Less than three minutes later, Richmond would respond with Jessica Bishop unleashing a shot inside the circle that Gilbride deflected into the back of the cage to even the score at 1-1.

Four minutes later, the Spiders would find the game-winner off a corner. Senior Kelly Quinn fed Katrina Balatgek, who provided the stop for Gilbride, who blasted it home to give Richmond a 2-1 lead in the 53^rd minute.

Like she has so many times this year, Hoyt was huge down the stretch, coming up with four saves in the three minutes minutes of the game to secure the victory for the Spiders.

Richmond returns to action on Sunday in a non-conference showdown against Big Ten foe Rutgers. Game time in Piscataway, N.J. is set for 1 p.m.

(Photo Credit: James Loving Photography)