All Phases Impress As Richmond Earns Road Upset Victory Over #7 Virginia

Saturday, February 15

Charlottesville, Va.

11:30 a.m.

University of Richmond

2-1

Virginia

1-1

Richmond

Virginia

All Phases Impress As Richmond Earns Road Upset Victory Over #7 Virginia

02/15/2025 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Charlottesville, Va. – From the opening whistle to the final horn, it was all Spiders on Saturday as the University of Richmond men's lacrosse team defeated No. 7 Virginia, 13-10, in a road upset played under soaking conditions.

The victory marked just the second win over the Cavaliers in Richmond's 12-season program history and its first win over a ranked opponent since 2022—the same year the Spiders beat Virginia for the first time.

That year, Richmond defeated then-ninth-ranked Jacksonville, 10-9, to capture the SoCon title. Before that, the Spiders claimed their first-ever win over then-second-ranked Virginia with a 17-13 triumph in front of a packed crowd at Robins Stadium.

Richmond (2-1) jumped on Virginia (1-1) with a 4-0 lead by 10:38 in the first and carried the momentum throughout, as 11 Spiders recorded points in Richmond's first road win over the perennial power.

Lucas Littlejohn had the game of his career as he led the Spiders with a career-high four goals, an assist, two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Gavin Creo and Max Merklinger each added two goals and an assist, Lukas Olsson added two goals, and Aidan O'Neil (assist), Joe Sheridan and Henry Alpaugh all scored. Daniel Picart, as well as long-stick midfielders Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson and Tommy Stull, along with goalie Zach Vigue, were each credited with assists.

Richmond's 4-0 run to start the day was broken up by Virginia's first goal of the game at 8:31 in the first before Richmond responded with another just over a minute later. The Cavaliers found the back of the cage once again at 1:24 before Richmond scored with five seconds left in the frame to go up 6-2.

The only goal of the second quarter belonged to Virginia as Richmond carried a 6-3 lead into the halftime break. The Spiders and Cavaliers traded goals in the third, with Virginia's only unanswered goals coming in the frame to pull it within two, 6-8.

The game would come within a two-goal margin just once again as Virginia made late efforts for a comeback and brought the game to 12-10 with 1:35 left to play. Max Merklinger put the game on ice with Richmond's final goal with 44 seconds left to secure the 13-10 win.

Richmond's defense and midfield play exploited the Cavaliers, who turned the ball over on seven of their 25 clear attempts. Richmond took better care of the ball in transition, going 23-of-26. Both teams committed an even 19 turnovers, with the Spiders causing 11 of Virginia's.

Vigue recorded 14 saves on 24 shots on goal and added two caused turnovers, a team-leading seven ground balls, and his assist on an Olsson goal from range came as the first-ever point of the goalie's career.

Michael Farrell led the Spiders close defensemen with three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Mitchell Dunham, Penafeather-Stevenson and Jack Pilling each added caused turnovers as well to stymie the Virginia offense.

Virginia held the narrow advantage in faceoffs, going 13-of-25.

Up next, the Spiders are back on the road next Saturday, Feb. 22 when they travel to Lehigh for the first time. Game time is set for noon.