University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
8-9
Duquesne (A-10 Quarterfinals)
9-8
Spiders Down Dukes In OT To Advance To A-10 Semis
05/05/2016 | Women's Lacrosse
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The University of Richmond women's lacrosse team fell to Duquesne in an overtime heartbreaker earlier this season, but it wasn't going to let that happen again.
The Spiders were on the winning side on Thursday, this time in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals, defeating the Dukes in a thrilling overtime matchup, 10-9.
“I'm proud of how the team executed our game plan today,” head coach Allison Kwolek said. “I thought we made some good in-game adjustments and stayed focus on executing the little things on the field.”
Junior Natalia Chaney led Richmond with five goals, tying her career high that she set against VCU in April. Freshman Marissa Brown added three points on a goal and two assists, and senior Brooke Wilson rounded out the Spider's multi-point scorers with two goals.
“That game shows how much we fought this season,” Chaney said. “We started off a little rough, but we're right back in it and we're not backing down.”
With the win, the sixth-seeded Spiders move on to tomorrow's A-10 semifinal match, where they will face second-seeded George Mason. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Rooney Field.
Chaney started the scoring for Richmond just 13 seconds into the game before Wilson made it 2-0 when she cut in front of the crease and buried a pass from Brown into the net.
Duquesne rebounded, scoring three-straight goals to take it's first led of the game, but Chaney got the Spiders back on track, scoring her second unassisted goal of the game. Freshman Mia Castagnero then regained the lead for Richmond when she scored her team-leading 40th goal of the season to make the score 4-3 with 19:08 left in the half.
The Dukes would not go away despite the one-goal deficit, and scored two consecutive goals to take a 5-4 lead. The back-and-forth play would continue, however, as Brown scored to tie the game at five goals apiece and then assisted Chaney's third goal of the game to give the Spiders a 6-5 lead with four minutes left on the clock.
Kim Egizi rounded out the first-half scoring with a goal at the 2:03 mark, giving Richmond a 7-5 lead entering the break.
The Spiders extended their lead to three goals just over two minutes into the second half when Wilson scored her second goal of the contest off of a free position shot. Duquesne would answer four minutes later, but Chaney notched her fourth goal with 22:59 left to play to make the score 9-6 in favor of the Spiders.
Duquesne rattled off three-straight goals within a two-minute span to even the game at nine goal each, but both defenses were able to hold the opposing team in check for the final 19 minutes, sending the game to overtime.
In the overtime period, the Spiders won the opening draw to take possession and earn the first scoring chances of the sudden-victory period. It was Richmond's third shot attempt that found the back of the net, as Chaney dodged multiple defenders to give the Spiders a 10-9 win over host Duquesne.
“Now we have to come out even stronger tomorrow,” Chaney said. “We have to put the past in the past and focus on the next game.”
Richmond will face George Mason for the second time this season. The Patriots narrowly defeated the Spiders, 9-8, in Richmond on April 3.
"We need to reset quickly and focus on getting prepared for George Mason," said Kwolek. "We're excited to have another opportunity to play them."
