University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
8-1, 3-0
High Point
3-6, 1-1
Hatfield, Defense Lead Spiders Past High Point, 12-4
03/25/2017 | Men's Lacrosse
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Rivalry games always bring a different level of energy to the field, no matter what the sport.
The University of Richmond used that energy to its advantage on Saturday when it rolled past conference rival High Point, 12-4, to improve to a perfect 3-0 in Southern Conference play and 8-1 on the year, the best start in school history.
Offensively, sophomore Teddy Hatfield had a record day, tying his own school record with eight points on the day, finishing with four goals and four assists, marking the second time this year that the Summit, N.J. native has reached those marks. It was his fourth career hat trick.
Hatfield's attackmate Dan Ginestro had three points on the day with a goal and two assists, while Austin Brown had two goals on the day as well for the Spiders.
Defensively, the Spiders were once against stifling, limiting their third straight opponent to six goals or less. In the past three games, opponents have scored just a total of 15 goals.
Senior goalie Benny Pugh tallied double-digit saves for the seventh time in nine games this year, allowing just two goals in nearly 52 minutes of action on the afternoon. The defense shutout the Panthers in the second and third quarters.
The Spiders got on the board early when Hatfield found Ginestro to convert a man-up opportunity and grab a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest.
Less than four minutes later, freshman Tyler Shoults fired one home to give Richmond a two-goal lead.
High Point got two goals in the final nine minutes of the first quarter to even things up, but the Spiders went to work in the second quarter.
Richmond's defense locked in, allowing just three shots in the quarter, while the offense went to work, scoring five different times, including one from Adrian Nash as the first-half clock expired to send the Spiders into halftime with a 7-2 lead.
After the break, things would stay the same with Richmond stifling any offensive opportunity for the Panthers, while Brown and Hatfield both found the back of the net to push the Spiders lead to 9-2.
Brown would find the back of the net another man-up opportunity with nine minutes left in the contest to cap off eight unanswered for Richmond.
HPU would finally get on the board in the fourth, scoring two in the final seven minutes, but it wouldn't be enough as the Spiders secured the 12-4 win.
Richmond returns home next Saturday when they host #15 Virginia. Game time at Robins Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
