Spiders Down VCU In Shootout Thriller

Friday, September 20

Crenshaw Field

3PM

University of Richmond

(4-3, 1-0)

VCU

(2-4, 0-1)

VCU

Richmond

09/20/2019 | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Sophomore Steffie Bongers scored two shootout goals and junior Frankie-Lynne Conklin stopped four VCU attempts to give the Spiders a thrilling 2-1 win in a sudden-victory shootout on Friday afternoon.

The Spiders move to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in Atlantic 10 play with the win, which was their first over the Rams since 2016.

After a scoreless first quarter that saw just one shot between the two teams, senior Elise Zwicklbauer put the Spiders on the board off an assist from Addie Nash when she scored in a scuffle in front of cage following a penalty corner.

The Spiders held the lead into halftime and held the Rams off until the 49^th minute when the visitors tallied their own penalty corner goal to tie the game. Neither team managed to score through the remainder of regulation, sending the Spiders and Rams into extra time for the first time since 2014.

Despite six shots in the first overtime and back-and-forth play in the second, the Spiders couldn't capitalize and went into a shootout with the Rams, their first since a 2-1 shootout loss to Lock Haven on September 25, 2016.

VCU jumped out to an early 1-0 shootout lead before the next two attempts for each team failed. The Rams went up 2-0 on their fourth attempt, forcing the Spiders to capitalize on their final two tries, and Bongers and Senior Elise Zwicklbauer were up to the task, each scoring on backhanded shots. Conklin stopped the final attempt in the first round of the shootout, sending the two teams into a sudden victory round.

Bongers once again stepped up, scoring on a reverse shot before Conklin ended the game with her fourth shootout save to give the Spiders a win to open A-10 Conference play.

The Spiders return to Crenshaw Field on Sunday, September 22, when they host UC Davis in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Game time is set for 12 p.m.