RICHMOND, Va. – Despite a deficit of just one goal after the first quarter, the St. Bonaventure women's lacrosse team was unable to close the gap against No. 25 Richmond on the road on Saturday afternoon, falling 19-6 following a mid-game surge for the Spiders.
 
After a tightly contested opening period which saw the Bonnies (7-6, 3-2 A-10) open the scoring and battle back from adversity before the first buzzer, the Spiders (8-2, 5-0 A-10) found solid footing in the second quarter to put together their scoring surge and never looked back.
 
Freshman Gracie Williams punched in the game's first score just two minutes in on a free position shot. Though the hosts responded with four goals in a row including two free position scores of their own, the Bonnies stepped up before the period closed.
 
After a save by sophomore goalie Judy Mahoney followed by a successful clear, Williams found a cutting Kierstin Hillis who ripped a shot into the back of the net. Senior captain Brooke Piper controlled the ensuing draw and sophomore Sidney Van Tassel capitalized with a third score to cut the lead to one.
 
Richmond would then catch fire in the second period, punching in 10 straight scores and keeping the visitors off the board during a game-changing stretch which lasted until there were just four minutes to play in the third quarter.
 
Piper broke the scoreless run with her 42nd goal of the season assisted by fellow senior Grace Hollenbeck. Bonaventure tacked on two more goals in the final quarter as Hollenbeck scored off an assist from classmate Megan Schillinger, who notched the other goal on her own. Unfortunately for SBU, the Spiders also added to their total during that time, effectively closing the book on the contest.
 
Mahoney and freshman Meredith Kearns split time between the posts with Mahoney earning the start and making two saves.
 
GAME NOTES

• Schillinger, Williams and Hollenbeck all tallied pairs of scores in the contest.
• Piper led the team in both draw controls (3) and groundballs (4).
• Williams, Colangelo, Olivia Peeler and Kate Hennessey each caused a turnover.
• The Bonnies forced 12 Richmond turnovers, limiting themselves to just seven.
• The Spiders were successful on all five of their free position attempts.

 
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH LEIGHANN STAUFFER
"Definitely not the outcome we wanted. We knew they were going to be a good team, but our standards and expectations are higher than what we put out there today. I hope we never play like that again."

UP NEXT
The Bonnies return to the Marra Athletics Complex next Saturday to host Saint Joseph's at 12:00 p.m.
 
------
For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and get women's lacrosse updates @BonniesWLAX. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies women's lacrosse can be found on Instagram @bonnieswlax.