Thompson scores another OT goal, lifting Spiders over St. Joe's

Correction Appended

For junior Megan Thompson, scoring the game-tying goal to force overtime wasn't enough. She scored the overtime game-winner, too.

And it's the second consecutive game she's done it.

Thompson, a junior from Gap, Pa., led the University of Richmond field hockey team to a 2-1 win over St. Joseph's University Friday afternoon at Crenshaw Field in overtime. She now leads the team with seven goals this season.

"I haven't changed anything about my playing," Thompson wrote in an e-mail after the game. "I think it just comes down to getting good scoring opportunities and taking advantage of them. When the team is playing well and we are getting a lot of goal-scoring opportunities, the ball is bound to get into the back of the cage sooner or later."

Thompson's tying goal against the Red Hawks came late in the second half, at the 67th minute. Against Virginia Commonwealth University on Wednesday, she also scored the tying and winning goals.

Thompson's game-winner on Friday came off a corner shot for Richmond. The initial pass shot to senior Alex Malatesta, who passed it to freshman Katelin Peterson. The Red Hawks' goalie came out to challenge Peterson, who shot the ball. It was deflected to Thompson, who sent it rocketing into the goal.

The game was forced into overtime when Thompson scored a goal with 3:04 left in the game. The assist went to sophomore Hannah Hess.

"I am absolutely thrilled," said Richmond coach Gina Lucido. "It was an absolute team effort and through persistence, resilience and pride we were able to win."

The Spiders trailed for most of the game after the Red Hawks scored at the 8th minute. Junior Kellie Walter scored her tenth goal of the year with an assist from sophomore Jen Wrublesky.

"I was so happy, not because of scoring, but because this was a great win for us," Thompson wrote. "And once conference games begin, you have to play well and win or you may not make it to the tournament."

Richmond improved to 4-9, with a 1-1 record in Atlantic 10 conference play. The Red Hawks suffered their first A-10 defeat, fell to 10-5 (2-1 in A-10), and were outshot 29-5 by the Spiders.

The Spiders next play another tough A-10 opponent when Temple University visits Crenshaw Field on Sunday. It's the final regular season home game for the Spiders.

"[The victory] will give us momentum if we come out and play as a team," Lucido said. "If we do that, we'll find success."

This story CORRECTS the previous version to say that Thompson scored the game-winning overtime goal after it deflected off the St. Joseph's goal, not after a pass from freshman Katelin Peterson.

Contact staff writer Andrew Prezioso at andrew.prezioso@richmond.edu