Liberty University
(4-0)
Richmond
(2-2)
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Liberty | 2 | 5 | 7 |
No. 17 Liberty Rolls Past Richmond, 7-1
9/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
The Liberty Lady Flames field hockey squad proved its worth in the NFHCA Top 20 poll, rolling past Richmond by a score of 7-1, Tuesday afternoon. Hours after cracking the NFCHA Top 20 poll at No. 17, Liberty posted its highest scoring outburst of the season to remain unbeaten.
Tuesday's contest was a rematch of the 2014 NCAA Tournament Play-In game in which Liberty upended the Spiders by a score of 3-1 in Lynchburg, on Nov. 12.
With the win, the Lady Flames continue their best-ever start with a 4-0 record. Meanwhile, Richmond falls to 2-2 on the season following the loss.
The Spiders notched the first goal of the contest in the fifth minute when Kimberly Sportack netted her first goal of the season.
The Lady Flames responded in the 25th minute of play as Natalie Barr recorded the equalizer. Following Ashlee Krulock's shot attempt that was saved, Barr corralled the ball and placed it into the back of the net to tie the contest at one apiece.
Just three minutes later, the roles were reversed when Krulock scored off of Barr's shot. During Liberty's penalty corner, Barr laced a shot on goal that was deflected down in front of Richmond's Emily Braunewell. Krulock reached her stick in just in time to poke the ball into the left corner of the frame to give the Lady Flames their first lead of the contest, 2-1.
Krulock's goal proved to be the game-winner as Liberty scored five second-half goals to stomp on the Spiders' hopes of a second-half comeback.
During the first five minutes of the second stanza, the Lady Flames received three goals including two from senior captain Sarah Gipe. Krulock found Gipe with a pass across the front of the net where the senior forward flicked the ball past Braunewell for the 3-1 advantage to open the second half.
Serena Barr notched her first of two goals following Gipe's goal in the 39th minute. After being granted another penalty corner, Barr collected the pass from Cassidy Bremner and zipped a shot in the bottom right corner of the frame to extend the lead to 4-1.
Gipe notched her second goal when Braunewell mishandled a ball that was inserted from outside the circle. The Keystone State native seized the moment and struck the ball out of midair and into the back of the net to extend the lead to four goals.
Serena Barr notched her second goal of the contest and third of the season in the 55th minute of competition. Barr displayed heads up defense and stole the ball that was being sent downfield. The junior defender then dribbled back into the right side of the circle, zipping a shot past the goalie's stick side to extend the lead to 6-1.
Liberty's final goal came from newcomer Lindsay Pratt in the 58th minute of the game. After Bethany Barr's shot was saved off the penalty corner, the Pennsylvania freshman collected the ball and netted her first collegiate goal for the red and blue. Pratt's goal came as the final blow of the contest, solidifying Liberty's 7-1 victory.
Mallory Cuccio displayed a strong performance in goal for the Lady Flames, allowing just one goal on eight shots. Cuccio's seven saves moves her up the ladder in all-time saves in program history as the Colorado native needs just 31 saves to pass Ann Jefferis for Liberty's all-time record.
The Lady Flames tallied 20 shots in Tuesday's victory, including 13 on goal. Liberty has now recorded at least 20 shots in each of its first four contests.
The Lady Flames also won the battle in penalty corners, forcing eight short corners against five Richmond corners. Liberty scored on four of its eight penalty corners during Tuesday's contest.
Liberty takes to the road for the first time this season on Friday when the Lady Flames take on the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio at 4:30 p.m. Liberty will then play No. 11 Louisville for a Top 20 showdown on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Louisville, Ky.
Team Stats
SPORTACK, Kimberly (1)
shot from the top of circle, deflected i
4:26
BARR, Natalie (2)
scored top shelf off rebounded save
24:10
KRULOCK, Ashlee (3)
poked ball in off the rebounded shot
27:55
GIPE, Sarah (2)
Assisted By: KRULOCK, Ashlee
passed across the front of the net, tipp
36:34
BARR, Serena (2)
Assisted By: JONES, Hannah , BREMNER, Cassidy
shot from the top of the circle into the
38:12
GIPE, Sarah (3)
knocked ball out of the air in front of
39:32
BARR, Serena (3)
stole the ball, dribbled in and shot fro
54:02
PRATT, Lindsay (1)
scored off rebound
57:59
