University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Fordham
Women's Soccer Takes 3-0 Home Loss To Fordham
10/25/2015 | Women's Soccer
Richmond women's soccer took a 3-0 home loss to Fordham Sunday in Atlantic 10 Conference action at Robins Stadium.
The Spiders fall to 4-11-1 overall, 2-5-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Fordham improves to 11-6, 5-3 in league games.
Rains fell most of the morning in the Capitol City, but they made way for warmer temps by game time. The Spiders had to weather that storm, then a barrage of shots by the Rams in the opening period. Fordham posted three first-half goals, the first coming in the 13th minute on a free kick just outside the 18-yard line on the right side. Ally Doyle lifted a pass to Kristina Maksuti for the far-post header about 10 yards out for the score.
“Tough losses and poor performances are opportunities to do some soul searching,” said Richmond head coach Peter Albright.
“I thought the team responded well in the second half and gave a good accounting of ourselves. That doesn't paint over the first half, which was an uninspired performance at a critical time for us. We look forward to regrouping and getting ready for St. Bonaventure.”
In the 35th minute, Natalie Sims lobbed a high ball over a defender to Jessica Widmann, who slipped a shot far post from eight yards in front for the 2-0 lead. It was her team-leading 11th goal of the season.
At the end of the 42nd minute, right before halftime, Lane Cronin scored her first of the season when a turnover in the back by UR resulted in a point-blank shot after a move past keeper Jessica Stanfill (Fitzgerald, Georgia) for the final score of the game.
The Rams had seven shots at the half to Richmond's two.
The Spiders came out firing in the second half, outshooting the Rams 9-7 in the second period, but three second-half saves from keeper Megan Fitzgerald kept a clean sheet for the visitors. She improved her record to 10-6.
Stanfill fell to a record of 2-4 this season.
Only three players took Richmond's 11 shots, led by senior tri-captain Ashley Riefner (Mechanicsville, Virginia / Atlee HS), who had five.
Richmond begins its final week of regular-season play Thursday night, with a road game at St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m. The final scheduled game will be at home on Homecoming weekend, Sunday, November 1, at 1 p.m. against cross-town rival VCU. Should the Spiders win both games, their chances would remain alive for making the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament the following week in Davidson, North Carolina.
