Spider Sports Recap: Weeks of Aug. 25 and Sept. 1

Women’s Soccer

Aug. 25: Draw 1-1 at East Carolina University

Redshirt junior Alyssa Walker scored the University of Richmond’s lone goal in the 1-1 double-overtime draw in the season-opening game. Junior Katie Tritt assisted on Walker’s goal, and redshirt senior goalkeeper Jessica Stanfill recorded three saves. 

Aug. 30: Win 2-1 vs. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

First-year Emma Kennedy scored the Spiders’ first goal on assists by senior Brooke Beam and junior TJ Anderson. Anderson scored a goal of her own 11 minutes later to give UR a 2-0 lead. UNCG scored in the closing seconds of the game, but the Spiders were able to fend off the defending Southern Conference champions’ late comeback attempt to secure the 2-1 victory.

Sept. 1: Loss 0-3 at University of Delaware

The Delaware Blue Hens scored three goals in the game’s opening 19 minutes, and the Spiders were unable to recover. Beam led UR in shots with three, and Stanfill recorded four saves in the contest.

Sept. 5: Loss 1-3 vs. Elon University

UR fell behind 3-0, despite outshooting Elon 14-8 during the game. Walker scored her second goal of the season to cut the deficit to 3-1 in the final minute on an assist from junior Olivia Tripodi. Stanfill had five saves.

Sept. 8: Win 3-0 vs. American University

The Spiders snapped a two-game losing skid with a 3-0 win vs. American. Tritt scored her first goal of the season just over one minute into the game, assisted by Walker. Later in the first half, Walker added a goal, her third of the season, on an assist by first-year Jessie Prillaman to give UR a 2-0 advantage. Junior Olivia Melnyk scored the Spiders’ third goal on an assist by Tritt in the second half. UR’s record improved to 2-2-1 with the win.

Football

Aug. 29: Win 38-19 vs. Jacksonville University

UR jumped out to a 21-0 lead en route to its 14th consecutive home opener win. Redshirt junior quarterback Joe Mancuso did most of his damage on the ground, recording a career-high 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also finished 14 of 19 with 131 passing yards. Redshirt first-years Aaron Dykes and Milan Howard each added a rushing touchdown as well. First-year linebacker Tristan Wheeler had a team-leading 12 tackles in his first career collegiate game.

Sept. 7: Loss 13-45 at Boston College

The Spiders fell behind 21-0 after the first quarter of play after the team’s three offensive drives ended with two punts and an interception. Mancuso rushed for 70 yards and finished 11 of 17 with 124 passing yards. Graduate transfer wide receiver Keyston Fuller scored the first touchdown of his UR career on a 35-yard pass from Mancuso. First-year running back Savon Smith had a career-high 66 rushing yards. The Spiders’ record falls to 1-1 after the loss.

Field Hockey

Aug. 30: Loss 1-5 at University of Maryland

The Spiders were tied 1-1 with No. 2 Maryland before four consecutive goals by the Terrapins. Sophomore Addie Nash scored UR’s only goal in the season-opening loss.

Sept. 1: Win 3-2 at American

Senior Elise Zwicklbauer scored twice, including the game-winning goal with under a minute to play, to give UR its first win of the season. Junior Abra Granger also scored a goal for the Spiders, and junior goalkeeper Frankie-Lynne Conklin recorded five saves in the contest.

Sept. 6: Loss 0-3 at Liberty University

Conklin had a career-high eight saves, but the UR offense was shut out in the 3-0 loss to 20th-ranked Liberty. 

Sept. 8: Win 3-2 vs. Bucknell University

UR improved its overall record to 2-2 with a win over Bucknell. Nash scored her second goal of the season to give the Spiders a 1-0 lead, but the Bison stormed back to take a 2-1 lead. Granger tied the game at two with under five minutes remaining before first-year Tess Keppel scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Contact sports editor C.J. Slavin at cj.slavin@richmond.edu.