Soccer Strikes Early But Falls at Liberty

Thursday, September 2

Lynchburg, VA

6:00 PM

University of Richmond

1-3-0, 0-0-0

Liberty

1-3-0, 0-0-0

Richmond

Liberty

Photo by: Spiders Athletics

09/02/2021 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The University of Richmond soccer team jumped on top of the Liberty Flames, but couldn't hold on to the early lead as the Spiders fell 5-2 Thursday night in Lynchburg. Richmond's Jessie Prillaman (Magnolia, Del.) scored her third goal in as many matches to open the scoring in the ninth minute of play, but the Flames would answer and eventually overtake the Spiders. Richmond falls to 1-3 on the season, while Liberty improves to 1-3.

"Simply put, tonight we weren't good enough in our defensive third." Head coach Marty Beall said, "We gave Liberty too much space and they capitalized. Our buildup phase of play was pretty good and we certainly created enough to make this a different scoreline but couldn't finish our chances. But again, we must improve our intensity and communication in our defensive third. That's a priority right now as we prepare to play Old Dominion on Sunday."

The Spider offense outshot the Flames 14-9 Thursday night, with eight on frame. TJ Anderson (Peachtree Corners, Ga.) led the offensive attack with five shots, two on goal and scored her first goal of the season. Prillaman added the Spiders other goal on three shots, two on frame. June Stevens (Newburyport, Mass.) added four shots, two on target. Molly Morgan (Upper Arlington, Ohio) and Hannah Antonick (Virginia Beach, Va.), each added a shot.

Taylor Montague (Durham, N.C.) played the full 90 in net. The sophomore picked up a pair of saves in the loss.

Prillaman and the Spiders struck first in the ninth minute of play. Prillaman gained possession in the 18-yard box, and after a physical challenge by the Liberty defender, she regained possession and fired a shot to the upper right corner of the net, just past the Liberty goalkeeper's outstretched hand that made contact, but could not alter the shot as Richmond earned the early lead.

Liberty responded just eight minutes later. A Spider throw in in Richmond's defending third was well challenged as the Flames' Chloe Marr gained possession outside the 18'. She lofted a shot just over the outstretched hands of Montague, and snuck it under the crossbar for the equalizer.

The Flames took a 2-1 advantage in the 29^th minute as Meredith King received a pass along the right side of the 18-yard box, and lofted a shot up and over the Spider keeper, hitting the netting on the left-hand side of the goal.

Anderson responded with the equalizer in the 34^th minute. After a Spider corner was played into the box, it found a Liberty header attempt to push it back out. It was played in by a Spider foot, ricocheting around where it found Anderson's right foot who sent a shot past the keeper on the right side to knot the match at two.

Liberty regained the lead in the 42^nd minute. Taylor Mason received a pass from Rachel DeRuby at the top of the 18. She faced a tough challenge, but fired a shot top shelf where it found the netting just past the Spider keeper to give the Flames a 3-2 advantage after the first 45 minutes.

The Flames added a pair of second half goals as the Spiders were unable to find the netting over the final 45 minutes.

Richmond returns to action Sunday evening as it heads to Old Dominion for a matchup with the Monarchs in Norfolk Sunday evening at 6 p.m.

-- UR --