Bongers’ Two Goals Lead Spiders Past Towson, 5-1

Sunday, October 7

Crenshaw Field

12PM

University of Richmond

(4-9)

Towson

(1-11)

TOWSON

Richmond

10/07/2018 | Field Hockey

Box Score Video Highlights

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Rookie Steffie Bongers scored twice in the opening half and three others tacked on goals over 70 minutes to lead the University of Richmond field hockey team to a 5-1 win over Towson on Sunday afternoon to round out nonconference play.

The Spiders' five goals are the most scored this season, while the Tigers' two shots are the least allowed by Richmond on the year. Bongers is the first Spider to log a multi-goal game this season.

"Today was a great day," head coach Jamie Montgomery said after the win. "We spoke a lot about taking advantage of our opportunities and giving ourselves as many chances as possible, and I think the girls did a great job of that today."

Bongers opened the scoring in the 25^th minute with a sweeping shot off a corner play on an assist from junior Elise Zwicklbauer. Less than three minutes later, freshman Jessica Hendry scored her third goal of the season, collecting a rebound of the Towson goalkeeper's pads and sending a shot bouncing into the goal for the 2-0 lead.

The Spiders weren't done yet in the opening half, as Bongers tallied her second goal of the game and team-leading fifth of the season on another straight corner shot. This time she was assisted by senior Olivia Hubert, who now leads the team with five assists on the year.

The Spiders opened the second half with a goal from sophomore Abra Granger in the 49^th minute to make the score 4-0. Granger collected the rebound off a shot and send the ball past the Towson goalie for her second goal of the season.

Towson managed to get on the board with a penalty stroke goal in the 58^th minute, but the Spiders answered with a goal from sophomore Cadera Smith. Smith's third goal of the season came when senior Nealy Henderson sent a ball across the cage, which found Smith's stick for the final goal of the game.

Richmond outshot the visiting Tigers 24-2, and held a 13-3 edge in penalty corners. Bongers led the Spiders with seven shots, including four on goal. Towson's two shots are the least allowed by a Spider defense since holding Saint Louis shotless in a 7-0 win on October 30, 2016.

The Spiders return to Atlantic 10 play for the remainder of the season, traveling to Philadelphia for a pair of games next weekend. Richmond will take on La Salle on Friday, October 12, at 3 p.m., before facing nationally-ranked Saint Joseph's on Sunday, October 14, at noon.