Spider Soccer Wins In Pink And Rain To Start A-10

Thursday, October 1

Robins Stadium (Richmond, Va.)

7:30 PM

University of Richmond

3-6, 1-0 A-10

Duquesne

5-5, 0-1 A-10

Duquesne

Richmond

10/02/2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

In the driving rain and in new pink jerseys for Think Pink month, the Richmond Spiders braved the elements and visiting Duquesne to get a 2-1 home win to begin Atlantic 10 Conference play at Robins Stadium Thursday night.

The win stops a four-game skid for the Spiders, puts them at 3-6 overall, and gets UR a leg up with a 1-0 league start. Duquesne slips to 5-5 overall and 0-1 in the A-10.

Richmond was wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month and rode a wave of emotion in the early going coming off a 10-day layoff since their last game.

Steady rains and gusty winds came throughout the evening, but the play was as intense as one might expect for a conference opener and the quality of play did not appear to be hampered by the elements. The two teams possessed well and almost even in the first half, with each squad controlling the run of play for long spurts.

“We needed to have a 90-minute effort, and we did that tonight,” said Richmond head coach Peter Albright. “I thought we controlled the emotional part of the game very well, created some good chances and got the goals. This is a step because it doesn't mean anything if you stumble on the next one. We're excited about the way we're playing right now.”

The game remained scoreless for nearly the entire half until a late push led to a pass from Alexis Pringle (Mechanicsville, Virginia / Atlee HS) to a touch from Kate Smith (Glastonbury, Connecticut) across for Lexi Prillaman (Magnolia, Delaware), who slipped through the defense and fired the game's first score into the net in the final minute of the half. The goal was Prillaman's second of the season to tie for the team lead. The assist was the first of the year for Pringle and for Smith, who was making her first appearance of the year after fighting back from a preseason injury.

“With the clock winding down, I'm giving my all before we get a break,” said Prillaman. “I got a touch from (Smith) and I shielded the ball and had an open shot. It ended our drought and opened up the game. It was a great feeling to go up right before the half.”

The Spiders had three corner kicks to one for the Dukes in the opening period, but shots were nearly even, with Richmond holding a 7-6 advantage in the opening period.

The second period saw Duquesne come out with more offensive pressure, getting some good early looks at the net, but sophomore keeper Katie Brennan (Fairfield, Connecticut) made a few clutch saves to keep the UR lead.

An ill-timed pass in the back led to a turnover in the 67^th minute, and forward Hannah Holub (Cary, North Carolina) made Duquesne pay with a touch and maneuver around keeper Kyra Murphy for the game-winning goal. It was the second of her senior season and career.

“The goals were key because it showed our depth,” said Holub. “I got really lucky and got a bad pass and was able to take a touch and get past the keeper and it all happened in slow motion. It was fantastic to get that chance.”

The Dukes later took advantage of a free kick from Maddie Layman that sailed over the mass of humanity in front of the net and caromed off of Brennan down to a waiting Danya Frenech for the rebound goal in the 78^th minute, but the Dukes could not put together another scoring play.

Brennan improved to 2-4 on the season with her six saves, tying her season-best mark in the victory. Murphy falls to 4-4 for the year.

The Spiders were out shot in the second half 12-5, but won the corner kick battle 6-3. Murphy collected two saves in the contest.

Richmond will head to Massachusetts for an A-10 game with the Minutewomen Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. UMass defeated La Salle in double overtime tonight to also start 1-0 in league action.

NOTES: The game marked the second this season for Richmond when both teams scored in the game… Richmond is 3-1 when scoring first and 2-2 at home in 2015… It was Richmond's first win over Duquesne since 2010 (0-2-1 in the last three meetings)… Prillaman and Holub both scored in the 4-0 win over Delaware on August 28.