Nov. 6, 2009

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AMHERST, Mass. - Sarah Blythe-Wood's goal with 3:41 remaining in overtime lifted top-seed Richmond to a 2-1 victory over the No. 4 seed UMass field hockey team in the Atlantic 10 Semifinals on Friday afternoon at Garber Field. The loss ends the 2009 season for the Minutewomen, while the Spiders (12-8) will advance to face the winner of the St. Joseph's and Temple. Cher King scored the lone goal for Massachusetts (12-9), while Alesha Widdall made eight saves in goal.

The Minutewomen jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first half, with King's goal coming in the eighth minute of play. After UMass was awarded a penalty corner, King inserted the ball to Nikki Panciocco. Panciocco then dished a pass over to Kim Young, who fired a shot on goal. The shot was a bit high, but King was right on the doorstep to redirect the ball down low for the score.

Richmond started to shift momentum as the half wore on, throwing six shots on Widdall. The Spiders were awarded two penalty corners throughout the half, but Widdall and the UMass defense was there to prevent any damage. Massachusetts, meanwhile, had four penalty corners in the opening half, but could not knock in another goal.

The Spiders statistically dominated the second half, outshooting UMass 12-1 and holding the advantage in penalty corners, 5-1. Richmond netted the tying goal in the 40th minute of play on Dani Pycroft's tenth goal of the year. Off a penalty corner, Blythe-Wood blasted a shot on goal that was deflected by Pycroft past Widdall to knot the score at one. The Spiders continued to apply pressure, but UMass held its own to send the game into overtime.

Both teams traded chances throughout the extra session, and Massachusetts thought they had the game-winning goal early in the overtime. After a Minutewoman throw a shot on goal, King redirected it over the goal-line, but an official was there to rule that King had knocked the ball in with her body.

Richmond took advantage of that break a few minutes later, when Blythe-Wood collected a long pass and went in one-on-one with a UMass defender. Blythe-Wood made a quick move to lose the defense, and then slammed a low shot past Widdall for the game-winner.