Second-Half Run Lifts Spiders Over Tribe, 12-9

Wednesday, March 6

Williamsburg, VA

5PM

University of Richmond

4-1

William & Mary

2-3

Richmond

William & Mary

03/06/2019 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – A slow opening half saw the University of Richmond women's lacrosse team and William & Mary combine for just eight goals, but a five-goal Spider run in the second half would seal a 12-9 road win on Wednesday night in Williamsburg.

Marissa Brown started the scoring for the Spiders in the third minute of play, but the Spiders went cold offensively following the opening goal despite the quick start.

Megan Gianforte managed five saves in net before the Tribe were able to score twice within a minute to take a 2-1 lead with 22:28 to play in the half. After over 11 scoreless minutes for both teams, the Spiders tied the game on a free position goal from Madison Ostrick.

Both teams picked up the offense in the closing minutes of the half, as the Tribe went up, 3-2, before the Spiders scored two straight on goals from Sam Geiersbach and Katie Sciandra. Both were assisted by Brown.

It looked as if the Spiders would take the lead into the locker room, but the Tribe scored with 32 seconds remaining to force a 4-4 tie at the half.

William & Mary jumped out to a 5-4 lead early in the second half, but two Tribe yellow cards within four seconds of one another opened the Spiders offense, allowing Mia Castagnero and Aly Fries to score man-up goals for the 6-5 lead.

After another defensive stop for the Spiders, Castagnero took control again, running right through the William & Mary defense for her second goal in just under three minutes. The Spider offense continued to roll, and Sciandra scored her second of the day before Geiersbach did the same on a spin move right in front of cage to make it 9-5.

William & Mary scored their second goal of the half with 13:22 to play, but Fries and Ostrick both scored on assists from Brown to make it a five-goal game.

The Tribe would not go away, scoring three-straight goals to make it a two-goal game, but Castagnero completed the second-half hat trick for the 12-9 win.

The Tribe outshot the Spiders 13-12 in the first half, but the Richmond offense turned things around to finish with a 33-26 advantage for the game. Julie Ball led the Spiders with five draw controls and three caused turnovers, while Gianforte collected a game-high five ground balls.

Two Spiders hit career milestones in the win. Gianforte finished the game with 11 saves, bringing her career total to 405, while Brown hit the 200-point milestone, totaling 201 for her career with her five on the day and placing her fifth in the Richmond record book.

The Spiders return to action on Sunday, March 10, when they host Old Dominion at Robins Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m.