Keppel Scores for Spider Hockey in Season Opener; Fall 3-1 to JMU

HARRISONBURG, Va. The University of Richmond field hockey team fell 3-1 in a defensive battle to James Madison to open the 2022 season at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

Richmond (0-1) is back in action on Sunday, taking on Longwood at 12 pm Fans can tune into the game on ESPN+.

“It was great to see the work rate and the energy of the team build up quarter by quarter,” head Coach Jamie Montgomery said. “They battled hard, and despite the loss, they started off the 2022 season on a positive note.”

JMU (1-0) took a quick 2-0 lead in the first quarter, picking up goals in the third and fourth minutes of the contest.

Senior Tess Keppel (Baltimore, Md.) tallied the Lone Spider goal at the 10:34 mark in the first quarter, putting in a rebound lifted high over the JMU goalkeeper. This was Keppel’s first goal since tallying a goal against Bucknell in 2019.

The Dukes added a third goal off a corner play at the 31:27 mark to push their lead to 3-1.

Richmond upped their defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, keeping the ball in their attacking third most of the period. The Spiders out-shot the Dukes 4-0 and collected four Corners in the final period.

Richmond got six of ten shots on goal, while JMU was held to only three of thirteen on frame. The Spiders also held the upper hand in corners, 9-6.