The University of Richmond Women’s soccer team tied 0-0 in a crowded home game against Radford University at President’s Field. After three scoreless games, the Spiders looked to bounce back at home.
The match was competitive from the start as the Highlanders kicked off the first half. The middle of the field was contested with red and white jerseys, each side not wanting to give their opponent a chance to progress. UR and Radford traded fouls and shots, as neither side could find a way through.
The Spiders’ 4-4-2 formation matched up against The Highlanders' 4-3-2-1 formation, as the game quickly turned into a midfield battle. The teams fouled each other left and right, Radford ended the game with 15 fouls to UR’s 11. The Spiders maintained a majority of the possession as the half ended 0-0.
UR started the second half brightly. The players were more alert and energetic, and they pressed into the final third of the field much more often. The Spiders attempted shots with almost every attack and created 13 shots (three on goal) by the end of the match. However, Radford also improved in the second half. The Highlanders continued to counter-attack and created their chances. Through two corners, Radford created the best of their 12 shots (eight on goal) as a strike hit the right post.
As the final whistle drew closer, UR kept attacking, trying to net a winner. With five minutes left in the game, the Spiders had their best effort denied by the Radford goalkeeper. The match ended 0-0 with both teams sharing the points.
Some of the Spiders’ top performers included graduate student midfielder Caitlin Sutton, who had three shots, graduate student forward Molly Weirman, who had three shots, and senior goalkeeper Taylor Montague, who made five saves.
Although the match ended goalless, UR Head Coach Adam Denton was pleased with how his team played.
“We possessed the ball better today than we had in the previous games,” Denton said. “We created more opportunities than we have created all season, but we need to improve in the final third.”
The Spiders controlled the ball well throughout the game but were hungry to put the ball in the back of the net.
“Winning first and second balls was our big emphasis in this game,” Sutton said. “Keeping the ball and having more possession led to more attacking chances.”
The Spiders are now 1-2-2 on the season and will travel to the University of Delaware on Sep. 3, where kickoff begins at 2 p.m.
Contact sports writer Ryan Stacy at ryan.stacy@richmond.edu.
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