University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Soccer Hosts American Friday Night
09/03/2015 | Women's Soccer
Following a split in the Nike Soccer Classic in Charlottesville last weekend, Richmond women's soccer returns to the pitch this Friday night at home, when the Spiders host American University at 7:30 p.m. at Robins Stadium. Admission is free.
Richmond got its first win of the year last Friday, in a 4-0 shutout of previously unbeaten Delaware. Redshirt sophomore Meaghan Carrigan (Greenville, South Carolina) provided the first game-winning goal of the year when she took an Ashley Riefner (Mechanicsville, Virginia / Atlee HS) pass and poked it past the keeper early in the second half.
Riefner assisted on two goals in that game and the lone goal in the Sunday contest, another Carrigan score in the fourth minute against Cal Poly. Carrigan leads the team with five points, adding an assist in the third goal against Delaware. Riefner and sophomore Lexi Prillaman (Magnolia, Delaware) have three points each through three games. Prillaman scored a goal and added an assist in the Delaware win.
Riefner is tied for 11th nationally with her one-assist-per-game average in the first NCAA statistics report.
The Spiders are 1-2, and through 270 minutes of play, Richmond has had the lead for more than 93 minutes and trailed for just over 12, with both game-winning goals by opponents coming in the final 10 minutes of play. The Spiders have outscored opponents 5-3 in three contests in 2015.
American (1-3) is coming off a split last weekend, including their first win of the year a Friday 2-1 victory at Mount St. Mary's. The Eagles have score three goals in four games and have suffered a pair of shutouts to start the season. Senior Kelly Donovan has two of the three Eagles goals this year, while freshman Yari Bradfield has the other goals and one of the team's three assists. The Eagles have been outscored 8-3 in their four games so far this season.
These two teams have met 14 times previous to Friday, with the Spiders winners of the last four in a row, by a combined score of 8-1. Richmond met American last on September 25, 2013, taking the victory in Washington, D.C. 3-1, after posting three-straight shutouts of the Eagles.
RichmondSpiders.com will have list stats and a live stream of the contest can be seen at the Atlantic 10 Digital Network, produced by SpiderTV. Robert Fish and former UR keeper Melissa Pacheco will call the action from Robins Stadium.
Richmond will play in the UNCW Hilton Garden Inn Invitational next weekend, taking on UNCW Friday night at 7:30 and St. John's on Sunday at noon.
