Riefner's Hat Trick Propels UR Past Princeton

Friday, September 19

Robins Stadium (Richmond, Va.)

7:00 PM

University of Richmond

4-4

Princeton

1-2-2

Princeton

Richmond

09/20/2014 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

Junior forward Ashley Riefner (Mechanicsville, Virginia / Atlee HS) set a career high with three goals to propel Richmond to a 3-2 win in its home opener over Princeton Friday night at Robins Stadium. The win pushed UR's record back to .500 at 4-4. The Tigers fell to 1-2-2 on the season.

Riefner's hat trick was the first for a Spider since Becca Wann scored three times in a home win over Old Dominion on September 1, 2011. Wann was honored at halftime of the Friday night game.

The Spiders got on the board first in the 28^th minute when a pair of long passes from Shannon Colligan (Greenwich, Connecticut) and Olivia Aha (Norfolk, Massachusetts) set up Riefner alone with the Princeton keeper, Darcy Hargadon. Hargadon challenged for the ball and Riefner fought past her to an open net for the opening score.

That 1-0 lead held to the half. The Tigers outshot the Spiders 10-4 in the first 45 minutes.

Robins Stadium // University of Richmond, Va.
		1st	2nd		Final
	Princeton (1-2-2)	0	2	---	2
	Richmond (4-4)	1	2	---	3
Scoring Summary
UR - Riefner (3), from Colligan & Aha, 28'
PRIN - Lazo (4), from Lussi, 52'
UR - Riefner (4), from Colligan, 54'
UR - Riefner (5), Penalty kick, 65'
PRIN - Lussi (1), from Lazo & Chow, 90'

Princeton got on the board with a tying goal in the 52^nd minute. Lauren Lazo poked home her team-leading fourth goal of the year from the corner of the 18-yard box far post on a give-and-go pass from Tyler Lussi.

Just under three minutes later, Riefner found herself open with the ball again, after a header by Colligan was deflected by Hargadon to an open Riefner on the near post for the tap-in goal down the middle.

The Spiders possessed better on the fast surface in the second half, controlling the tempo a little better. Riefner got loose on a breakaway up the near sideline and was pulled down in the box for a penalty kick, which she fired near post for the hat trick.

The Tigers closed the gap with a goal on a breakdown in the back with 30 seconds remaining for the final tally. Lussi knocked home her first goal of the year on the play.

Junior keeper Emily Kelly (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) notched the win to improve to 4-3. She made seven saves in the contest.

Hargadon made three saves and took the loss (1-2-2), while her substitute, Gudrun Valdis Jonsdottir, made two saves.

The Spiders will remain at home with a 4 p.m. Sunday tilt against Old Dominion.

NOTES: All four of Richmond's wins in 2014 have come when one player scores at least two goals… Colligan notched two more assists and leads the team with six on the season… It was Colligan's second two-assist match of the year… Riefner took over the team leads with five goals and 13 points… The three goals scored tied the team-high total in a match this season… Richmond is now 2-2 all-time against the Tigers, with both wins coming at home.