University of Richmond
3-1
Cornell
3-0
Early Lead Not Enough As Big Red Eke Past Spiders, 12-11
03/02/2025 | Men's Lacrosse
Richmond, Va. – The University of Richmond men's lacrosse team jumped to a 6-1 lead in the first quarter against No. 3 Cornell, but the Big Red responded down the stretch, took their first lead of the game with 2:21 left to play, and ultimately handed Richmond its second loss of the season, 12-11, Sunday in front of a packed Robins Stadium crowd.
The Spiders (3-2) opened the game with a 6-1 lead in the first quarter, thanks to goals from six different scorers: Lukas Olsson (14:00), Max Merklinger (7:46), Aidan O'Neil (7:34), Joe Sheridan (6:05), Henry Alpaugh (2:40), and Daniel Picart (2:07). Littlejohn assisted on Olsson's and Alpaugh's goals, while Merklinger assisted on O'Neil's. Making his season debut, faceoff man Jared Chenoy won the draw and recorded an assist on O'Neil's tally.
Up 6-1, Richmond's offensive burst gave way to a quick need for more defense as the Big Red answered with three unanswered goals in the first four minutes of the second quarter. Richmond responded with a goal from Littlejohn off a pass from Evan O'Neil, but Cornell quickly added two more to make it a one-goal game at 7-6 with under five minutes left in the half. Sheridan then tallied his second of the game off an Aidan O'Neil pass with 3:59 left in the half, pushing the Spiders to an 8-6 lead. However, the Big Red cut their deficit to one with a goal in the final five seconds of the half.
Cornell scored the first goal of the second half, but the Spiders answered with two goals in the third quarter—one from Joe Sheridan and another from Gavin Creo—to take a two-goal lead with 15 minutes left to play.
Aidan O'Neil's second goal of the day at 10:48 in the fourth put Richmond up 11-8, but Cornell responded with three unanswered goals between 8:49 and 5:35 of the fourth quarter, before delivering the game-winner at 2:21 to extend the Big Red's early-season win streak to 4-0.
Despite struggles at the faceoff dot (Richmond went 8-of-27), the Spiders' defense held strong, anchored by goalie Zach Vigue, who made 13 saves. With his second save of the game, Vigue reached 500 career saves, becoming just the second Spiders goalie to surpass that milestone.
Richmond's middle-of-the-field defense continued to dominate, forcing the Big Red (17-of-21) into four turnovers on clears, while Richmond was perfect at 23-of-23. The Spiders caused 12 of Cornell's 19 turnovers, led by Hunter Smith, Michael Farrell, and Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson, who each had two. Smith, tasked with guarding the nation's leader in goals per game and points per game, CJ Kirst, held the All-American to three goals and an assist—his quietest game of the season so far. Cornell held a narrow edge in ground balls, 33 to Richmond's 30.
The Spiders have a quick turnaround before playing Mercyhurst at Robins Stadium on Tuesday, March 4, at 3:00 p.m.
