Spiders fall to No. 5 University of Maryland in season opener

The University of Richmond men’s lacrosse team lost 12-7 to No. 5 University of Maryland in its first game of the season in College Park, Md. on Feb. 1. 

UMD, the 2024 National Championship runner-up, has beaten UR in its season opening game for the past three years. 

The Spiders quickly fell behind in the opening half, with the Terrapins out-scoring them 7-0. Despite a comeback in the second half, the gap was too big to close. 

The Spiders started the first quarter with several shot attempts, but couldn’t seem to capitalize off of any of them. UMD had the first goal of the game midway through the quarter. Despite two turnovers and a blocked shot attempt, the Terps managed to widen the lead one second before the buzzer sounded. 

UR was frustrated further when UMD scored five goals within six minutes in the second quarter. The Spiders managed a few shots in between the Terps’ goals, but were unable to land anything in the cage. UR tried to regroup and called a timeout in the last seconds of the half.

Determined to put points on the board, the Spiders charged into the scoring circle. Junior attacker Aiden O’Neil finally grabbed UR’s first goal of the season in the first two minutes of the third quarter. In spite of UR’s determination, the score ended at 11-2 in favor of the Terps at the quarter. 

The Spiders fought through the fourth quarter with a strong showing. They matched UMD’s high-scoring second quarter with five goals of their own. Unfortunately, their efforts ended when the buzzer sounded, leaving the score at 12-7, the Terps taking the victory. 

O’Neil, named Preseason All-Conference team, displayed a stellar performance in the second half, scoring four goals. 

“I think once you’re older, you’ve seen a lot, you’ve matured,” O’Neil said in the season preview conducted by Spider Athletics. “I’m ready to go.”

Graduate student goalkeeper Zach Vigue, who received Preseason All-American honors from USA Lacrosse, managed four saves throughout the game. 

Receiving three of six first-place votes, UR was picked to top the conference for the third year in a row in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll.

“I think our team this year might be even better than the team last year,” Vigue said. “We just gotta go out and fight every day.”

The Spiders have several non-conference games ahead of them before their first A-10 game against St. Bonaventure on March 29. They will end the season with a string of conference games leading immediately into the Championships May 1-3. 

The Spiders’ next game will be at home against Robert Morris University on Feb. 8. 

UR played RMU for the first time last season, beating them 23-7 in a blowout match. This will be the first game of the Colonials’ season. 

Contact sports editor Abigail Finney at abigail.finney@richmond.edu.