Spiders Hang On For 10-9 Win At Liberty

Saturday, March 2

Lynchburg, VA

1PM

University of Richmond

3-1

Liberty

4-2

Richmond

Liberty

03/02/2019 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Junior goalkeeper Megan Gianforte logged a season-high 14 saves, including eight in the second half, to lead the Spiders to a 10-9 win at Liberty on Saturday afternoon.

Gianforte's 14 saves were the most since she finished with 14 in the Spiders' Atlantic 10 Championship win last season. She has now posted double-digit saves in every game this season.

The Spiders jumped out to a hot start, as rookie Lauren Kingsbury scored less than four minutes in off an assist from Mia Castagnero to spark a 5-0 run for the Spiders. Rookie Jillian Becker tallied her first career goal on an assist from Katie Sciandra, before Sam Geiersbach made it 3-0 just over 30 seconds later on an assist from Marissa Brown.

Sciandra and Becker each logged an goal to make it 5-0, before the Flames went on their own 5-0 run to tie the game. The Spiders went scoreless for nearly 16 minutes, but Sciandra stopped the bleeding with her second goal with just 33 seconds to play in the half.

After eight scoreless minutes to start the second half, Sciandra extended the lead with her third goal of the day and second hat trick of the season. Castagnero then scored her first goal of the afternoon to make it 8-5, before Liberty answered with its first score of the half.

Castagnero put the Spiders back up by three minutes later on her second free position goal of the day, and Madison Ostrick extended the lead to 10-6 just 42 seconds later to force a Liberty timeout.

Neither team managed to score for nearly eight minutes, as Megan Gianforte stopped two-straight free position shots to maintain the four-goal advantage. The Flames, however, were able to score their first free position goal of the day on their next attempt to make it 10-7 with just under 11 minutes to play.

The Flames would not go away, as they went on to score two more goals to make it a one goal game with under five minutes to play.

Despite continuous pressure from the Liberty attack, Gianforte kept the Spiders in the game with a pair of saves in the closing minutes and the Spiders held on for the one-goal win.

Sciandra led the Spiders with three goals and four points on the day, while Castagnero and Becker also posted multi-point outings. Gianforte and Tatiana Monds each collected three ground balls, while Gianforte also led the team in caused turnovers, forcing two along with Julie Ball, Ostrick and Sciandra.

The Spiders will stay on the road for their next matchup, a 5pm meeting with William & Mary on Wednesday, March 6.