This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Alex Kist.
After the start time was pushed to 3 p.m. due to anticipated inclement weather, the Colonials battled Richmond Friday afternoon but fell 11-9 in the offensive battle.
GW (4-8, 2-2 A-10) drew first blood with junior Olivia Boudreau notching the first point in the first minute of play. But the lead was short lived, the Colonials gave up three straight goals and were down 3-1 just six minutes into the game.
A series of slipshod connections and a string of fouls helped the Spiders (7-6, 4-0 A-10) capitalize and make the most out of their possessions to win, though GW controlled much of the game and outshot Richmond 27-21.
“Our finishing was not where it needed to be, because if we finished better we probably would have won the game,” said head coach Tracy Coyne.
GW fought back with a three goal run of its own. Sophomore Bailey Forcier scored the final goal for the Colonials in the first half, even after Richmond created an opportunity to play following the taking of a draw. Forcier led the Colonials with two goals and finished with one assist and three shots on goal.
“I think we were just a little more aggressive and selective with our attacking movement. It wasn’t really scripted, it was more recognition of space and then finishing those opportunities,” Coyne said.
But the Spiders responded with three more and took a 7-4 lead into halftime. After refocusing during the break, the Colonials bounced back within the first two minutes of play in the second with a goal.
GW also managed to play through the Spiders’ defensive scheme and succeeded in handling the defensive pressure, especially in the second half where they outshot Richmond 16-9.
“In the scouting report, we felt like draw controls, ground balls and possession, limiting our turnovers, were key – all within our control,” Coyne said. “I think they know we had control over those things and I think they felt confident in the game plan, and so we just talked about dictating the tempo and I think they really responded well.”
Despite GW’s relentless pressure up the field and the fact that the Spiders succumbed to 16 turnovers, Richmond was able to get the win, aided by two goals within the final nine minutes of play and by goalkeeper goalkeeper Emily Boyce’s 11 saves.
Even with Forcier’s second goal on the night, the Colonials couldn’t chip away as Richmond’s heavy double-team pressure up front forced GW into multiple bad shots.
“I think we usually embrace the double-team pressure pretty well. We were trying to move it twice out of the double and then we just weren’t really finishing our shots,” senior Jamie Bumgardner said. “We will be practicing this week about embracing the pressure and embracing the double team.”
Bumgardner tied the GW record for most career assists in the game, accumulating 101 after her performance today. The top attacker leads the team with 23 assists this season and finished the night with one goal and four assists. Sarah Phillips, a member of the 2008-12 teams, also notched 101 assists.
The Colonials return to action on Friday to match up against Duquesne at 4 p.m. in their second to last home game of the regular season.