Spring Break
Field hockey splits weekend A-10 games vs. Richmond, St. Louis
Evan Crawley
Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: Sports
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10/17/06 - Following a tough 1-0 loss to 18th ranked University of Richmond Friday, the University of Rhode Island field hockey team rebounded with a 3-0 victory over St. Louis University.
"That was huge," head coach Stacey Bean said.
Junior goalkeeper M.J. Britt recorded nine saves, while the URI defense added three of their own to hold the Spiders to one, 3.46 scores below their average.
URI managed just four shots on goal, and only one in the second half.
"M.J. had a great game, she's been playing better and better as the season has gone on," Bean said.
In addition to Britt's play, Bean felt the defense also turned in a stellar performance.
"That was a direct result of mentally being in the game 100 percent," Bean said. "They were so mentally tuned with every facet of the game this weekend."
Richmond's Shannon Taylor scored at 11:31 on a shot to the right corner of the goal. The Rams are one of two teams this season to hold Richmond to less than two goals, the other being No. 3 Old Dominion.
"Richmond is by far the best team in our conference, and we played them tighter than anyone else. It may not count in the win column, but it's a moral victory for us," Bean said. "It was just a great team effort, literally the best game to date this year, or ever for that matter."
Sunday the Rams bounced back with a 3-0 victory over Saint Louis, moving them up to fourth place in the Atlantic 10.
"That right there is a pivotal game for our season... If we go in and lose that game, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, and now are in a position where we are relying on other teams," Bean said.
For much of the first half the Rams were deadlocked with Saint Louis, until freshman Jill Powers put the Rams on top with a goal at the 32:41, assisted by sophomore Annie Kane. The Rams did not wait nearly as long to score in the second half, as junior Jeannie Records scored a little over a minute into the period to take a 2-0 lead.
URI added another goal by Kane at 62:24 off an assist from sophomore Jamie Adams. The win pushes the Rams overall record to 6-6 overall, 2-2 in the A-10.
The Rams next game is Friday at La Salle (5-11 overall, 1-3 A-10).
"Its always dangerous [playing a team out of contention], their style of play is a little more desperate," Bean said.
With the Rams remaining games against teams in the basement of the A-10, they will have to be wary of being upset.
"Some teams revel in that [being a spoiler], and we have to set the tone early and not let them enjoy it," Bean said.
URI will need to remain in the top four in the conference to qualify for the A-10 tournament, but if they win out they will not have to rely on other teams to make it.
"Now we control our own destiny and can take care of business ourselves," Bean said.
"That was huge," head coach Stacey Bean said.
Junior goalkeeper M.J. Britt recorded nine saves, while the URI defense added three of their own to hold the Spiders to one, 3.46 scores below their average.
URI managed just four shots on goal, and only one in the second half.
"M.J. had a great game, she's been playing better and better as the season has gone on," Bean said.
In addition to Britt's play, Bean felt the defense also turned in a stellar performance.
"That was a direct result of mentally being in the game 100 percent," Bean said. "They were so mentally tuned with every facet of the game this weekend."
Richmond's Shannon Taylor scored at 11:31 on a shot to the right corner of the goal. The Rams are one of two teams this season to hold Richmond to less than two goals, the other being No. 3 Old Dominion.
"Richmond is by far the best team in our conference, and we played them tighter than anyone else. It may not count in the win column, but it's a moral victory for us," Bean said. "It was just a great team effort, literally the best game to date this year, or ever for that matter."
Sunday the Rams bounced back with a 3-0 victory over Saint Louis, moving them up to fourth place in the Atlantic 10.
"That right there is a pivotal game for our season... If we go in and lose that game, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, and now are in a position where we are relying on other teams," Bean said.
For much of the first half the Rams were deadlocked with Saint Louis, until freshman Jill Powers put the Rams on top with a goal at the 32:41, assisted by sophomore Annie Kane. The Rams did not wait nearly as long to score in the second half, as junior Jeannie Records scored a little over a minute into the period to take a 2-0 lead.
URI added another goal by Kane at 62:24 off an assist from sophomore Jamie Adams. The win pushes the Rams overall record to 6-6 overall, 2-2 in the A-10.
The Rams next game is Friday at La Salle (5-11 overall, 1-3 A-10).
"Its always dangerous [playing a team out of contention], their style of play is a little more desperate," Bean said.
With the Rams remaining games against teams in the basement of the A-10, they will have to be wary of being upset.
"Some teams revel in that [being a spoiler], and we have to set the tone early and not let them enjoy it," Bean said.
URI will need to remain in the top four in the conference to qualify for the A-10 tournament, but if they win out they will not have to rely on other teams to make it.
"Now we control our own destiny and can take care of business ourselves," Bean said.
